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What is meant by Positive Float in Critical Path Method (CPM)?

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Question added by Ikram Ul Haq , Assistant Manager Planning , HYDRO CHINA International Co.Ltd
Date Posted: 2016/05/25
Syed Farman Iqbal
by Syed Farman Iqbal , FICO Integration and Testing Lead , Toyota - Abdul Latif Jameel

In project managementfloat or slack is the amount of time that a task in a project network can be delayed without causing a delay to subsiquent task or Project completion date.

Possitive Float is amount of time available to complete non-critical activities or work items without affecting the total project duration

Cariappa Bittianda
by Cariappa Bittianda , DIRECTOR , SYNERGY POWER CONTROLS PVT. LTD

In complex projects with a large number of activities usually involving varied resources the task is broken down into step-by-step activity which enables the management to track the progress minutely and scientifically this is usually represented in the form of diagram. It’s core focus of preventing any time-frame problems and process bottlenecks by taking preventive and corrective actions. .A broken down sequence of activities is called a 'path,' and each path is interlinked to the other. The longest-path in the diagram is the critical path. It is 'critical' because all activities on it must be completed in the designated time, otherwise the whole project will be delayed.

 

Positive float means that there is more time available for an activity in the project schedule. So if that particular activity was delayed it will not delay the completion of the project as per the project schedule. Positive float activities are not on critical path 

Truong Thi Tuyet Hong
by Truong Thi Tuyet Hong , Planning Specialist , Terrain Services LTD. & Excel Consortium

Positive Float in Critical Path Method (CPM) means the duration an activity can be postponed or delayed without delay the project completion date.

 

Ikram Ul Haq
by Ikram Ul Haq , Assistant Manager Planning , HYDRO CHINA International Co.Ltd

It is caused when the backward pass is calculated from a schedule constraint that is later than the early finish date.

rana yahya
by rana yahya , DevOps/Cloud Engineer , DECOIN(DTEB)

 Positive float is the amount of time that must be saved to bring the project to completion on time. Negative slack can also indicate a scheduling problem when, for example, a task’s start date is set earlier than the end date for a preceding task in the critical Because each task in the critical path must be completed before the next can be started, if there is negative float, it may be necessary to find unused float elsewhere in the project plan.

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