PMP Exam - Critical Path Part 2

Sir Ganttalot helps you prepare for the PMP exam by explaining Critical Path and Float/Slack analysis. This Part 2 video explores in detail the forward/backward pass approach to identify the Critical Path in a project network and to determine the float/slack for non-critical tasks. The Part 1 session covered a quick and easy "eyeballing" method that will equip you to answer most of the likely questions on this topic in the PMP exam. This second video will allow you to answer questions involving Early/Late Start/Finish through the use of the forward/backward pass technique.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• PMP
• Exam
• Preparation
• Sir
• Ganttalot
• SirGantallot
• Forward
• Backward
• Pass
• Critical
• Path
• Float
• Slack
• PMBOK

[metallica929]

In my book it says that critical path is the path where the ES and LS are equal for all activities. That's not the same as what you said: longest duration.

[SirGanttalot]

Your book and my video are both correct. Per my video, where there is Zero Float/Slack, the item is critical. And if ES and LS are the same, then LS minus ES will be zero, making the item critical. So one charecteristic of the CP is that all tasks along it have Zero Float/Slack. ANOTHER characteristic of a critical path is that is is the longest duration path through the network. So the two statements are flipsides of the same coin, not contradictions. Hope this helps.

[jodisapphire]

@SirGanttalot This has proven to be quite helpful thank you. I'm having trouble constructing an activity network I got for my exam and I'm hoping u can help me. So activity A, B, C have no predecessors, D follows C, E follows B and D, F follows A and E, G follows A and E, H follows F, I follows G, J follows C, and K follows H and I. I'm okay with the calculations but I just need help with the construction of the activity. Thank you.

[SirGanttalot]

I have a solution.......feel free to email me separately (my email address is on my Channel page) and I can either FAX you or send a PowerPoint).

[testpmp]

Great Videos on Critical Path. Thanks a lot. Made it so easy for all of us. Most concise and simple explanation I have come across. Will love to hear more from you

[blacon9]

Very well done with these videos, great help to everyone.

[Projamax]

I am new to this and understood this very easily by this video..thanks a lot

[amitmicrosoft2010]

awesome

[shankarwsme]

excellent one, explained very nice and understandably.

[shankarwsme]

excellent one, explained very nice and understandably.



[mcbvalencia0603]

thank you SirGanttalot.  i'm a working student and your lectures saved me a lot of time rereading and understanding whenever i have a mental meltdown doing my assignments.

[mjoraid]

why the early start for I is 13 not 9, since it can start after we finish with G, right?

or in this case i have misunderstood the question (Activity I can start after Activity D, G and H) does the comma here indicate an OR or AND relationship?

if its AND then all of them must be completed before we start I,so we take 13, otherwise we take 9.

but since u have chosen 13, then its an AND.

I think i just answered my self.

thanks though.

[metallica929]

@SirGanttalot Thanks for the reply. Appreciate it.

[SirGanttalot]

Most likely on the PMP test you will not have a question that asks, for example, "What is the ES for Activity NNN?". The reason is exactly the one that prompted your question...there are two different approaches that work, and therefore two possible answers. Instead, questions might be to give you a list of say, 6 tasks, showing the ES and LS for each of them using real dates. Then you might be asked which task is critical, or which has most slack.