Critical Path

[Mti]

I have tasks that do not show up in the Critical Path but always want them to
be included. How can I force a task to be included in the Critical Path?
This is for project leaders who must manage to the critical path. Thanks!

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

If the tasks do not show up in the critical path, that's because they are
not part of the critical path
If your people have to manage to the critical path, Project will tell them
what that is.
If what you say is "they must manage to what I think should be the critical
path" then you must make your favorite tasks look critical (again, in the
internationally recognized definition of critical path, if project does not
show them as critical, they aren't.

So how to make non-critical tasks look critical?
Insert a column Flag1 (or Flag7 or Falg11 or...)
Put to "Yes" for your own "criticaloid" tasks.
Format, Bar Styles
Find the first empty line line
In name write Pseudo-Critical or any name you want
In appearance make them look like the critical tasks (red I presume)
In show For... enter Flag1
In From enter Start, in To enter Finish

HTH

 

[Steve House [MVP]]

Adding to Jan and John's comments - "critical task" does not mean the same
thing as "very important task." A task is on the critical path if a delay
to that task's finish will delay the project's finish. If the task has a
slack time anything over zero, that is, has any "wiggle room" before a delay
in it would delay the project completion, it's not a critical task.

Steve House [MVP]

 

[John]

I have tasks that do not show up in the Critical Path but always want them to
be included. How can I force a task to be included in the Critical Path?
This is for project leaders who must manage to the critical path. Thanks!

Mti,
You need to explain to project leaders that just because a task doesn't
show up on the critical path, it is still part of the plan and must be
accomplished. If they are just managing to the critical path, the
overall project will either not get done, or will take a lot longer
simply because tasks that are not on the path will not get done
(assuming only "managed" tasks are worked), and eventually they will
become critical. In the meantime, more efficient effort to perform them
will have passed and the team will always be in crisis mode - a poor
management style.

I suggest you review the critical path on a regular basis because
critical path tasks represent the bottlenecks that are slowing down
progress on the plan. Just don't forget to work the tasks that are not
in trouble.

However to answer you basic question, use a spare flag field to identify
those tasks you want included and then create a modified critical path
filter. Have it look for the flag AND all tasks that have "0" or less
Total Slack.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Mti,

I suspect the lack of knowledge of how a task becomes critical and what the
critical path is. Perhaps you'd care to see FAQ Item: 42. Guide to
Network Analysis

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://www.mvps.org/project/

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[Haixiang]

critical path depends on the dependencies in your project.
you think some of the tasks should be critical, but they are not. I think
you may miss some dependencies.
you can adjust dependencies, add constraints or add deadline to make a task
critical.
But it is not recommended to do so, provide the dependencies you set is
resonable.