How Does the Critical Path Method Determine Project Duration and Deadlines?

What Does the Critical Path in a Project Schedule Really Represent?

Understand what the critical path in a project schedule represents — the longest sequence of dependent activities that determines the minimum project duration. Learn how identifying the critical path helps project managers control timelines and prevent delays.

Question

What does the critical path in a project schedule represent?

A. The path with the most resources assigned
B. The shortest possible project duration
C. The longest sequence of dependent activities determining project duration

Answer

C. The longest sequence of dependent activities determining project duration

Explanation

The critical path is a foundational concept in predictive project schedule management and represents the longest sequence of logically dependent activities from the project start to its finish. Any delay in an activity on the critical path directly delays the entire project’s completion date, which is why these activities carry zero float (or slack) — meaning they have no scheduling flexibility. Activities not on the critical path have float, allowing them to be delayed slightly without affecting the overall project end date, while resource allocation or shorter sequences of tasks are entirely separate considerations that do not define the critical path itself.