Critical Path Method (CPM)
A schedule network analysis technique used to determine the amount of scheduling flexibility (the least amount of float) on various logical network paths in the project schedule network, and to determine the minimum total project duration. Early start and finish date are calculated by means of a forward pass using a specified start date. Late start and finish dates are calculated by means of a backward pass, starting from a specified completion date, which sometimes is the project early finish date determined during the forward pass calculation.