LECTURE 7

Calculating the Critical Path

Introduction
Critical Path:
The path through the network that takes the
longest total time, and
Determines the earliest possible time the
project can be completed.
All activities on this path have zero float; the
early and late start (and early and late finish)
are the same.

What the Critical Path Calculates

Earliest Start (ES) = the earliest time at which the activity
can begin.
Calculated by a forward pass through the network diagram,
Calculated on the basis of the projects start time and the duration
the preceding activity.

Earliest Finish (EF) = the earliest time by which the

activity can be completed

Calculated by adding the activitys duration estimate to the earliest

start time.

EF= ES + Duration estimate

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What the Critical Path Calculates

Latest Finish (LF) = the latest time that the activity can
end and still allow the project to be completed on time.
Calculated by a backward pass through the network diagram
Calculated on the basis of the projects completion time and the
duration for the succeeding activities. Generally, the latest finish
time of the activity is equal to the earliest of all the lastest start
times of all activities emerging directly from that activity.

Latest Start (LS) = the latest time that the activity can
begin and still allow the project to be completed on time.
Calculated by subtracting the activitys duration from the activitys
latest finish time

LS= LF Duration estimate

Total Slack / Float

Total Slack: The time difference between the scheduled
completion date and required date to meet critical path

Total Slack = LF- EF or

Total Slack = LS - ES
If Total Slack >0: some activities can be delayed
without jeopardizing completion of the project by its
required completion time
If Total Slack <0: some activities need to be
accelerated in order to complete the project by its
required completion time
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Slack Identification

ACTIVITY

EARLIEST START TIME (ES)

EARLIEST FINISH TIME (EF)

C (8,10)
2 (15,17)
LATEST FINISH TIME (LF)
TIME

LATEST START TIME (LS)

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Types Of Slack

[ 20, 26 ]

[ 30, 36 ]

[ 24, 30 ]

[ 24, 30 ]

POSITIVE SLACK NEGATIVE SLACK

Negative Slack

FORWARD PASS

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BACKWARD PASS

CUSTOMERS
START DATE

CUSTOMERS
FINISH DATE

Slack Identification
ES

EF

Earliest Start

Earliest Finish

Activity Description

Duration
Estimate

Activitiy
Number

LS
Latest Start

LF
Person Responsible

Latest Finish
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Picnic at the Lake - Activities

Activity
Description

Person
Responsible

Duration (mins.)

Preceding activity

1. Decide on trip

Husband & Wife

none

2. Get money
from bank

Wife

12

3. Boil eggs

Husband

10

4. Make egg
sandwiches

Husband

10

5. Load car

Husband & Wife

2,4

6. Drive to lake

Husband & Wife

30

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Picnic at the Lake

Get money
from bank
Min: 12 Float:
Early Start:
Early Finish:
Late Start:
Late Finish:

Decide on
trip

Load car

Drive to lake

Min: 5 Float:
Early Start:
Early Finish:
Late Start:
Late Finish:

Min: 30 Float:
Early Start:
Early Finish:
Late Start:
Late Finish:

Min: 2 Float:
Early Start:
Early Finish:
Late Start:
Late Finish:

Boil eggs
Min: 10 Float:
Early Start:
Early Finish:
Late Start:
Late Finish:

Make egg
sandwiches
Min: 10 Float:
Early Start:
Early Finish:
Late Start:
Late Finish:
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Classroom Activity 10a

Picnic at the lake create planned and
preceding activities network diagram.
Determine critical path.
Add early start, late start, early finish, and late
finish to each activity.

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Questions?

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