Multiple Critical Paths in MS PROJECT 2013

Hi,

today I will show you how to use Option: Calculate multiple critical paths in MS PROJECT 2013!

What is Critical Path indeed? This is the longest path which show you how long will a Project Duration be. It is also a path in which if any task is late, the whole Project will be late. So, it has no Slack!

OK! Let me create brand new Project:

or, graphical View:

Now I’ll switch to Detail Gantt View:

As you can see Critical path is on upper branch of Tasks. Task 4, and Task 5 have Slack = 9 days. It means that they can slip for 9 days without affecting Project end date.

Because Task 4, and Task 5 are in independent branch you can consider this branch Critical as well. So, if you want to see those Tasks as critical you should follow this steps:

then:

and then:

and you will get:

Now you see both branches (independent) as Critical.

Let me give you an advice. It doesn’t make a sense to have multiple independent branches in a Project. You should always have one common Task at the end of the Project, or at least, one milestone. I always have a milestone at the end of the Project.

I will create one and I will put Task 3, and Task 6 as Predecessors to that milestone:

Let’s look at Detail Gantt again:

Now, I have only one Critical Path, and Option: Calculate multiple critical paths is still on.

And this is best practice how to make right Schedule for your Project. To conclude, avoid independent branches in you Project!

Regards!

About Nenad Trajkovski

Location: Zagreb, Croatia Occupation: Project Manager Interests: Project Management and MS PROJECT He was born in Zagreb, Croatia at 1963. After completing his college he started working on projects in different business areas (banking, manufacturing, automotive industry, distribution, oil companies, etc.) developing and implementing ERP systems into different companies. He has got a lot of experience working with people in different business processes and also possesses great knowledge in information technologies and financial services. Today he works as a business consultant, adn Project Manager in PERPETUUM MOBILE d.o.o. Zagreb. He is a regular lecturer for Project Management in MS Innovation Center in Varaždin, Logosoft Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina and SEAVUS GROUP in Skopje Macedonia. He was named the best lecturer of WINDAYS 2008 while his lecture was also voted as the best. In addition, he was in TOP 10 lecturers at the MS SINERGY 2009 and MS VISIA 2009, 2010. Shares first place as the best lecturer of KulenDays 2009 and 2010 and PMI Conference 2009 in Zagreb. He is also a regular lecturer in the MS Community. He is a Certified Accountant and a PMP (Project Manager Professional) and a PMI-RMP (Risk Manager Professional), MCP, MCT, and Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist - Microsoft Project 2010. From 01.01.2012 awarded with MVP (Microsoft Most Valuable Proffesional - Microsoft Project)!

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