Can anyone explain me, when we see in network diagram of any project (which does not have any link between the tasks), the first task is being shown as "Critical Task" (with RED border)?

Thanks



Mac

Because it is the only task with zero total slack. Critical path is calculated by project. Without further information - I can't give a more complete answer, sorry.

Hi Julie,
Please find attached here a sample project file.
Project A has duration of 3 days, B has 2 days and C has 1 day.

Please review the network diagram. Task A is on Critical path. If you change the duration of the tasks B & C as 3 days each, then they will also become "critical".

Even if you change the start date of Task A to June 05, 2013 (keeping the same duration), it will show Task A as "critical".

Will you please explain why this happnes?

Thanks

Attached Files

Project1.pdf (9.2 KB, 15 views)

None of your tasks are linked, therefore the task with the longest duration (initially Task a) is the task on the critical path - it is the task that is driving the latest date in the project. When you increase tasks b & C to 3 days duration they now all finish last and are all critical. Changing the start date of A to June 5 with 3 days duration still makes it finish last.

So, what are you expecting?

Julie,

Thanks for your reply. The task with the longest duration is a "critical" task.

I don't know if this is a question or statement. In the project you had attached yes, the longest task was critical because it was the task driving the end date of the project. Critical is calculated mathematically - it is not subjective. You may have a task that you consider to be very important, but it may not be on the critical path.