One Way to Develop
Top 3 Critical Paths
Angelo Arcoleo
18 May2011
1
2
3
1- Select your program end-deliverable as your Primary CP end-task.
Using Gantt Chart view, select end-deliverable task
to define Primary Critical or Driving Path
4
Use the ‘Find Path to Selected Task’ icon to run macro
and find controlling predecessors
5
Use the Driving Path Widget to find controlling
predecessors
The Driving Path Widget locates all predecessor tasks that drive a specific
task.
Have you ever looked at a long list of predecessor tasks in a project and
wondered which one is causing the schedule delay? With the Driving Path
Widget, you will stop wasting time manually checking tasks to identify a
path of predecessors that determine any given task’s schedule. Just select a
task and push the "Driving Path" toolbar button.
Available from: Project Widgets
6
Select Yes when warning pops-up.
Four fields (2-Text, 2-Flag) are used in this macro;
Then select View 09 - Path Gantt Chart to view results
FYI: Here’s what these fields are
titled…
7
Use View 09 – Path Gantt Chart, to see path leading to that task
Sort by
DP,
Then by
Finish
8
Select PS-UID Column in MS Project
Copy and Paste into Excel for DP numbering
then Copy DP # and Paste into DP field
subsystem
Driving path
step
Smart DP numbering helps to define subsystem, automatically define DP/CP and sort tasks in sequential
9
order
Add Formula for CP, if missing…
CP will populate as a function of DP
In a Master Shell environment, using a subsystem prefix in DP field helps identify what subsystem a paths
lies.
10
Review and adjust DP order to eliminate schedule “knots”,
then Sort by DP, Then by Finish
Schedule “knots” are out-of-sequence tasks. Manual renumbering smart DP ID fixes this situation.
11
2- Setting a temporary deadline on selected end-deliverable task,
2 months before contract end-date
Set task Deadline: 2 months earlier,
to create a negative TS condition…
Deadline can be set earlier, depending on the level of “sensitivity” you want to temporarily “push” TS.
12
3- Performing Total Slack analysis to determine remaining Critical
or Driving Paths
Select view Total Slack Analysis
13
Filter-out CP#1 (CP contains blank)
14
Copy PS-UID for Secondary Critical or Driving Path,
Paste in Excel and Number Driving Path
Review and adjust DP order to eliminate any schedule “knots”,
Sort by DP, Then by Finish
15
Define Tertiary Critical Path
You may need to further “push” the deadline to define 3rd DP
You can manually number DP for short paths
Review and adjust DP order to eliminate any schedule “knots”,
Sort by DP, Then by Finish
16
4- View Top 3 Critical Paths
Select view 08 – Top 3 Critical Paths
17
4- View Top 3 Critical Paths
Select view 08 – Top 3 Critical Paths
18
Reset Deadline
19
View Top 3 Critical or Driving Paths
Done!
20
View Top 3 Critical or Driving Paths
Key Concepts
Driving Path vs. Critical Path
SmartQuestions?
Driving Path Numbering
Critical Path formula
Standard Views
Gantt Chart
Total Slack Analysis
THANK
Path Gantt YOU!
Top 3 Critical Paths
Smart PS-UID
Total Slack in Calendar Days
This concludes (one way ) “How to Perform Critical Path Analysis” and
Develop a Top 3 Critical Path Chart
21
View Top 3 Critical or Driving Paths
Credits:
Driving Path Macro – Created by Ken Jamison, Project Widgets
Corp: 302.439.3414 Fax: 302.397.2064 Email: info@projectwidgets.com
Delivering Microsoft Project consulting, training and software solutions.
Sponsor –
Joanne Greene-Blose, PMP President and CEO
joanne@theprojectsolvers.com
The Project Solvers of America, Inc.
One Grove St, Suite 216A, Pittsford, NY 14534
585-764-5663 http://www.theprojectsolvers.com
Presenter:
Angelo Arcoleo, PMP
Cell: 585-217-6794 Email: angeloarcoleo@gmail.com
22
ANGELO ARCOLEO brings over 30 years experience in engineering, project
management, planning and trainer assisting organizations by leading
projects and teams to plan and help execute critical projects. Angelo
brings many years of program and business experience and best practices
to every Project.
His passion for what he does, self-motivation, quiet-leadership and ability
to work with many people and teams assures program success.
He is a professionally trained Civil Engineer, BS, Rochester Institute of
Technology; Town of Webster Planning Board member and Master
Scheduler for ITT – Geospatial Systems Division; Orange Belt in
Microsoft® Office Project; and President of MPUG (Western New York
Chapter, Microsoft® Project Users Group).
angeloarcoleo@yahoo.com
angelo.arcoleo@itt.com
585-217-6794
585-269-7806
23