PERT / CPM was designed to provide a number of useful pieces of information for project managers. This method exposes the critical path of a project; that is, the activities that limit the duration of a project.
In other words, to get the project done soon, the critical path activities will need to happen soon. On the other hand, if an activity on the critical path is delayed, the project as a whole will be delayed by the same amount.
Activities that are not on the critical path have a certain amount of slack; that is, they can start later and allow the project as a whole to stay on schedule.
The PERT / CPM identifies these activities and the amount of time available for delays.
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