Agile Project Management vs. Critical Path Method

The Critical Path Method (CPM) of project management is very commonly used in the management of construction projects.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

CPM works very well when the components of the design and the project are mostly known to all responsible parties. CPM focuses on either a single value-delivery event such as the completion of a building or in major phases such as turning over a floor at a time.  

Management Tools: Agile Project Management vs Critical Path Method (CPM).

CPM does not work as well in situations where there are significant “Known-Unknowns” about the plan CPM really breaks down when there are “Unknown-Unknowns”:

  • The final destination isn’t crystal clear; even to the leader
  • The path to get there has unknowns
  • The tools and tactics required to get there aren’t known to the team

In these situations more agile management methods are required either in conjunction with or to replace CPM:

There are similarities between all methods.  Develop the systems that work best for your company at this point in time.




Project Delivery - Lease Leaseback
Project Owners typically manage the financing of the project. In certain circumstances this does not always make sense, which is where Lease-Leaseback or Build-to-Suit project delivery methods come in.
Sun Tzu and The Art of War for Contractors & Careers
Success in all aspects of life has to do with how effectively you align your opportunities and resources.
Strategic Market Experiments
A growing contractor must systematically allocate 10-20% of their resources, including talent and capital to Strategic Market Experiments that have a probability of growing into a major market and becoming a "Strategic Choice."