Unlocking Project Efficiency: Understanding Critical Path Analysis and Gantt Charts

Running head: BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEM
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1. What's the relationship between Critical Path Analysis and a GANTT chart?
Critical path analysis in business project management is the method by which projects
which are specifically complex are analyzed and planned where several activities needs to be
done which are dependent on preceding activities. The main objective of CPA is to identify
the lengthiest path of a plan which enables one to figure out the shortest possible time a
project can be completed. A Gantt chart on the other hand is the visual representation of a
project schedule which shows all the tasks and their relationships. While using Gantt chart the
main disadvantage is that it does not provide the dependencies of the tasks and also does not
show the tasks that are critical to finish the project on time (Vanhoucke, 2014). Herein lies the
relationship between critical path analysis and Gantt chart. While the Gantt chart fails to
reflect the dependencies of the task, the critical path analysis helps in providing detailed
analysis of the tasks.
2. What's a PERT chart and how has that method evolved into modern Critical Path
Analysis?
PERT chart or Project evolution review technique, shows the order of the activities
and their dependencies with other activities. It has three time estimates for each activity which
includes optimistic time, most likely time and the pessimistic time. Critical Path analysis and
pert chart are authoritative tools that help in scheduling and managing projects that are
complex in nature. Pert and Critical analysis method evolved near about in the same period of
time and gradually grew as the important scientific management tool for project management.
3. What's the critical path of a project?
A critical path in a project management is the arrangement of the activities in the
project network that are combined to the overall duration of the project. It is the sequential