View source for Resource-Constrained Critical Path Method

''Developed by Giorgia Scartozzi''


This article aims to describe a new approach to a specific project management technique called '''Critical Path Method (CPM)'''.

According to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), CPM ''is a method used to estimate the minimum project duration and determine the amount of scheduling ﬂexibility on the logical network paths within the schedule model''<ref name=PMI> Project Management Institute, ''"A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® guide) - Fifth edition".'' (2013) </ref>.
Given scheduled activities for a project that need to be completed in a specific order, multiple task sequences can be defined. CPM helps us to determine the longest sequence of tasks in the project, which will be also the shorter possible project duration. Thus, the main steps of CPM will be described, providing a brief guidance on how to apply the method so to obtain the optimal project duration.

However, a traditional CPM schedule is not realistic, because it assumes unlimited resources, some of which are highly limited in practice<ref name=PF> Kyunghwan Kim and Jesùs M. de la Garza, ''"Phantom Float".'' Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Volume 129, No. 5 (October 1, 2003) </ref>.
Therefore, a different approach of the same technique, called '''Resource-constrained Critical Path Method (RCPM)''', will be presented. By providing a step-by-step RCPM procedure, the article will focus on the advantages that this method can offer compared to the traditional Critical Path Method.
The paper will then conclude with observations about the benefits and limitations of both CPM and RCPM, highlighting differences and similarities between the two techniques.

==Overview==

===What is Project Management?===

The definition of 'project' can be found in the Project Management Body of Knowledge: it ''is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result''<ref name=PMI />. Ergo, a project is any series of activities and tasks having a specific objective to be completed within some specifications<ref name=CPA> Paing Hein Soe and Thein Min Htike, ''"Critical Path Analysis programming method without network diagram".'' MATEC Web Conference, Volume 192 (2018) </ref>, such as start and end dates, specific goals and limits, established implementers responsibilities, budget and schedule<ref name=estim> Rafik Nafkha and Artur Wilinski, ''"The Critical Path Method in estimating project duration".'' Information Systems in Management, Volume 5, No. 1, Pages 78−87 (2016) </ref>.

The management of a project is essential to ensure that these activities are completed in accordance with all the given specifications and expectations<ref name=applic> Nishi Sharma and S. B. Gupta, ''"Applications of Critical Path Method in Project Management".'' International Journal of Management and Economics, Volume 1, No. 26 (November 2018) </ref>. Therefore, 'project management' can be defined as ''the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements''<ref name=PMI />. It is the process of defining, planning, organizing and controlling tasks in order to deliver a project in time and at a reasonable cost.

Scheduling is an important and difficult task during project planning since it helps to monitor the project duration and resource utilization. The challenge is about the scheduling complexity and dynamism: in fact, plans can change before the start but even during the implementation.

In order to better manage projects, many methods were created, and among them, the critical path method (CPM) is one of the better-known planning and control techniques in project scheduling.

==The Critical Path Method==
==The Resource-constrained Critical Path Method==
==Observations==
==References==
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==Annotated Bibliography==