What is Float in the Critical Path Method (CPM)?
Understand what float (or slack) means in the Critical Path Method (CPM). Learn how total float and free float provide scheduling flexibility, allowing project managers to delay certain activities without impacting the final project deadline.
Question
What is float in the Critical Path Method?
A. The total cost of the project
B. Extra time an activity can take without delaying the project
C. The duration of an activity
Answer
B. Extra time an activity can take without delaying the project
Explanation
In the Critical Path Method (CPM), “float” (also known as “slack”) refers to the amount of flexibility or extra time an activity has within a project schedule. Specifically, total float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start date without delaying the overall project completion date. Free float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any subsequent activities. Activities that reside on the project’s critical path typically have zero float, meaning any delay in these specific tasks will directly result in a delay to the entire project.