critical pathn.
/ˌkrɪtᵻkl ˈpɑːθ/, /ˌkrɪtᵻkl ˈpaθ/, U.S. /ˌkrɪdək(ə)l ˈpæθ/ The sequence of stages in a particular operation or process which determines the minimum time needed for its completion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > [noun] > a form or kind of operation > series of dependent operations > important sequence of operations
critical path1959
1959 Operations Res. 7 657 Should any event on the critical path slip beyond its expected date of accomplishment, then the final event can be expected to slip a similar amount.
1970 Daily Tel. 13 Oct. 21/4 The critical path through a diagram..is the one which takes the longest, because it is on that route the time for completing the whole operation depends.
1984 Electronic Design 28 June 133 If a task along a critical path slips behind, the PERT chart will automatically update all related charts, reports, and schedules to reflect the longer time span.
2010 Computer Weekly 2 Feb. 20/3 This meant setting an aggressive delivery date and working backwards to establish the critical path and resources needed.
Compounds
C1. General use as a modifier.
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1959 Proc. Eastern Joint Computer Conf. 160 (title) Critical-Path planning and scheduling.
1964 C. Dent Quantity Surv. by Computer vii. 114 The critical path schedule indicates to what extent an operation may be delayed before the job becomes ‘critical’, i.e. before the completion date must be put forward.
1992 Archit. Rec. (Nexis) Dec. 22 (caption) Updating a task is easy; click on the node representing it in the critical-path diagram and the task-edit forms pops up.
2000 Computerworld (Nexis) 11 Sept. 38 Successful project management today is less about the science of using Gantt charts, work breakdown structures and critical-path methodology than about effective communications,..leadership and customer satisfaction.
C2.
critical path analysis n. (also with capital initials) a system of planning complex processes whose elements have to be conducted in a given sequence, by calculating the longest path of planned activities to the end of the project, and the earliest and latest that each activity can start and finish without extending the project.
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1961 Daily Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) 19 Sept. 5/7 William Imbrie..will talk on ‘Critical Path Analysis’. He will indicate what it is, how it differs from traditional methods of planning and scheduling, its versatility and uses in construction, maintenance and introduction of new products.
1990 Guardian (Nexis) 8 Nov. IT people..can control great projects through critical path analysis.
2015 S. A. Devaux Managing Projects as Investm. iv. 61 The more variances from plan that there are, the more valuable critical path analysis is for measuring impacts and making decisions.
critical path method n. (also with capital initials) a method used in planning complex processes whose elements have to be conducted in a given sequence, by calculating the longest path of planned activities to the end of the project, and the earliest and latest that each activity can start and finish without extending the project.
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1959 J. E. Kelley & M. R. Walker Critical-Path Planning & Scheduling in Proc. Eastern Joint Computer Conf. 171/2 The basic assumption that underlies the Critical-Path Method, as developed thus far, is that adequate resources are available to implement any computed schedule.
1964 K. G. Lockyer Introd. Crit. Path Anal. i. 2 In 1958, the E.I. du Pont de Nemours Company used a technique called the Critical Path Method (CPM) to schedule and control a very large project.
2019 Business Wire (Nexis) 6 Aug. Our inventory management solutions follow the critical path method for managing and overcoming..disruptions which can otherwise lead to huge financial losses.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2022).
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n.1959