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Article
Zero-Slack, Noncritical Paths
Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education
  • Jacob V. Simons, Georgia Southern University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2017
DOI
10.1111/dsji.12130
Abstract

The critical path method/program evaluation and review technique method of project scheduling is based on the importance of managing a project's critical path(s). Although a critical path is the longest path through a network, its location in large projects is facilitated by the computation of activity slack. However, logical fallacies in oft-repeated statements of the relationship between slack and the critical path make it easy to overlook the phenomenon of zero-slack, noncritical paths. This article points out the fallacies and then describes and illustrates the phenomenon. We conclude with teaching recommendations to avoid suboptimal decisions in reducing project duration.

Citation Information
Jacob V. Simons. "Zero-Slack, Noncritical Paths" Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education Vol. 15 Iss. 3 (2017) p. 254 - 267 ISSN: 1540-4595
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jacob_v_simons/71/