A programme manager uses PERT network analysis to schedule the construction of a rural health centre. In such a network diagram, the 'critical path' is defined as:

• A The shortest sequence of activities through the network
• B The path with the largest number of activities
• C The path containing all activities with the lowest cost
• D The longest path through the network, which determines minimum project duration ✓

Explanation

The critical path is the longest time-consuming chain of dependent activities from start to finish; it fixes the minimum time in which the whole project can be completed, and any delay along it delays the entire project. It is not the cheapest path nor the one with most activities. Activities off the critical path have slack time and can absorb some delay without affecting completion date.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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