Project Management using Critical Path Method (CPM): A Pragmatic Study

Abstract

Traditional techniques of decision-making have hindered the technical efficiency of most professionals and executors of the public project in many developing countries such as Nigeria. The use of Gantt chart in project planning has continued to increase as a source of last resort in spite of its severe limitations for ineffective project management and delivery. CPM has gained widespread commendation and acceptance in the developed countries. This technique is yet to gain any appreciable acceptance for implementation of public projects in Nigeria. Professionals and executors of public projects in Nigeria have remained conscientiously to the Gantt chart. In order to address this problem of project planning, the CPM was applied to “construction of a complex building at Federal University of Technology, Yola.” This paper describes a specific case study with real data and an application. The results show the effectiveness of the CPM in, planning, scheduling, and organizing, coordinating, managing, and controlling of project time and cost. The study concludes by arguing that, CPM is not difficult to apply and when applied it improves inter-departmental communications, gives clear definition of responsibilities and minimizes the occurrence of crisis management.

KEYWORDS: Developing countries, CPM, Nigeria, construction.