Critical Path Analysis
Scheduling Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: Critical Path Analysis is another name for the Critical Path Method (CPM), the scheduling calculation that uses task Durations and logical relationships to work out each task's dates and Float and to find the Critical Path.
The two terms are used interchangeably, and this encyclopedia treats them as the same thing. A Forward Pass and a Backward Pass through the schedule produce each task's dates and Total Float, and the tasks with the least Float form the Critical Path. Because the Critical Path can shift as work is statused, the calculation is rerun every reporting cycle. The Critical Path Method entry explains the steps in more detail.
What this means for you
The Critical Path shows which tasks are driving the finish date, so the project team knows where a delay will do the most damage and where to focus management attention.
Also known as
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Used in
Critical and Driving Path Analysis; schedule health assessment; Integrated Master Schedule narrative reporting; what-if and schedule acceleration analysis
See also
FAQ
Is Critical Path Analysis the same as the Critical Path Method?
Yes. The two terms are used interchangeably, and this encyclopedia treats them as the same thing.
What is needed to perform Critical Path Analysis?
A logically sequenced schedule with task Durations and dependencies, statused to Time Now. The analysis relies on that logic to trace impacts, so checking the Durations and relationships is part of the work.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
