Finding Roadblocks in the Critical Path

Copyright 2005 Most projects are composed ofmilestone the next starts.
multiple steps, and often these steps areIn the real world there are many activities which
performed by more than one person. In the artinteract in different ways. For instance, there are
science of scheduling for project management,"independent" activities which can run
these steps are called activities.simultaneously and apart from each other.
When an activity is completed, it is said to haveHowever they almost always come together at a
attained its milestone. One might simplistically thinkcertain point, that is to say they share a common
of a project as a succession of activities which,milestone. The shared milestone could be the
laid end-to-end, eventually complete the project.project endpoint, or it could also be a waystation
But when is life ever that simple? Projects arealong the path to completion.
rarely so linear that when one activity reaches its