See the critical path of your plan
The critical path is the chain of tasks that decides when the project ends. GenuinePlan calculates it for you and highlights it on the chart.
What you get
- Automatic calculation. A forward and backward pass over your tasks, including start-to-start, finish-to-finish and start-to-finish links with lag.
- Highlighted on the chart. Critical tasks and the links between them are drawn in orange.
- Everything else has room. Tasks that are not highlighted can slip a little without moving the end date.
- Updates as you edit. Change a duration or a link and the critical path moves with it.
Why it matters
Delaying a critical task delays the project; delaying a task with slack may not. Knowing which is which tells you where to put your best people and where a slip is safe. The method is explained in critical path method, step by step.
Pair it with a baseline to see how far the finish date has moved since the plan was approved.
Frequently asked questions
Is the critical path always one chain of tasks?
No. A plan can have several critical chains when they finish at the same time.
Does it handle lag and different link types?
Yes. The calculation uses finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish and start-to-finish links, each with an optional lead or lag in days.
Related
Critical path method
The critical path is the longest chain of dependent tasks. It sets the shortest possible project duration.
Read more →Dependencies and lag
Real projects overlap. Link tasks the way the work actually flows, with a lead or lag where it helps.
Read more →Baselines
Freeze the plan you agreed on. As the project moves, GenuinePlan shows the original dates behind the current ones.
Read more →Plan your first project in a few minutes.
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