A schedule is a network, not just a list of dates
Activities depend on one another. Those relationships create paths through the project. The longest path through the network is the critical path under the standard critical-path method; work on it has no total float under the standard interpretation.
Common dependency
Finish-to-Start means one activity must finish before the next can start. Other relationship types exist, but the important skill is understanding what the dependency means operationally.
Float
Float is schedule flexibility. If an activity can move without moving the project's planned completion date, it has some float. A critical-path activity has zero total float in the standard interpretation.
Schedule compression
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Fast tracking | Overlap work that was previously sequential; can increase risk or rework. |
| Crashing | Add resources or spend to shorten duration where practical; increases cost or resource pressure. |
Why PMs get schedule discussions wrong
“Can we finish faster?” is not enough. Ask what can be overlapped, what resources are available, what risk increases, what quality trade-offs appear, and whether the shortened date is worth the cost.