The Critical Path Method (CPM) is an algorithm for scheduling a set of project activities. It is an important tool for effective project management. implements this method to provide the user with a wide set of project management tools.
To display a critical path on the Gantt chart, open the View tab and check the Critical Path option in the Show/Hide section. Now you can see which tasks are most critical: the ones that add up to the longest project duration.
Pic. 1. Critical path on a Gantt chart.
ConceptDraw PROJECT automatically calculates tasks’ Early Start, Early Finish, Late Start and Late Finish dates, as well as Early Slack, and Late Slack duration. To display these values, you should customize the columns in the table part of the window. Right-click (CTRL-click on Macs without a two-button mouse) on the project data column header, in the Column Customization window, select appropriate columns and click OK.
Pic. 2. Column Customization window.
If you have a project that contains several related projects, you may need to determine their common critical path.To determine overall critical path, open the File menu and click Properties. In the Document Properties window open the Advanced tab and uncheck the Calculate independent critical path for each project option. You can also determine the slack time for tasks to be considered critical.
Pic. 3. Critical path on a Multiproject dashboard.
Video. Critical Path Method in ConceptDraw PROJECT
A pie chart or a circle graph is a circular chart divided into sectors, illustrating numerical proportion. In a pie chart, the arc length of each sector and consequently its central angle and area, is proportional to the quantity it represents.
Pie chart examples and templates created using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software helps you get closer with pie charts and find pie chart examples suite your needs.
When thinking about data visualization, one of the first tools that comes to mind is a flowchart design. You can find flowchart symbols, shapes, stencils and icons easily on the Internet, but it might take time to systematize this information. Nevertheless, once you start flowcharting, you’ll love its simplicity and efficiency.
This diagram consists from standard flowchart symbols, approved by ANSI (American National Standard Institute) for drawing flowcharts. A flowchart is a diagram that represents a step-by-step algorithm of any process, displaying the process stages as boxes that are connected with arrows. Flowchart design makes it clear and readable.
Flowchart designed using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM flowchart software allows to make attractive and clear process presentation, it makes interpretation of the business process flow fresh and versatile. Great flowchart design view is a big advantage over the diagram created manually on a paper.
Picture: Flowchart Design: Principles, Layout, Symbols and Best Practices
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM extended with Cross-Functional Flowcharts Solution from the Business Processes Area is a powerful software which offers a variety of Cross Functional Flowchart examples. The use of predesigned examples as the base for your own Cross Functional Flowchart Diagrams is a timesaving and useful way.
To design line and scatter charts use ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Line Graphs solution from Graphs and Charts area of ConceptDraw DIAGRAM Solution Park. (Line chart, scatter chart, 2d chart).
Timeline is a type of diagram which illustrates the series of events in a chronological order on a linear timescale. How to make a timeline? It is convenient to use a modern powerful software. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Timeline Diagrams solution from the Management area is exactly what you need.
The power, economy, and versatility of ConceptDraw MINDMAP takes personnel and team productivity to another level. Discover today what this means to you.
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a powerful business and technical diagramming software tool that enables you to design professional-looking graphics, diagrams, flowcharts, floor plans and much more in just minutes. Maintain business processes performance with clear visual documentation. Effectively present and communicate information in a clear and concise manner with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM.
A flowchart is a powerful tool for examining processes. It helps improving processes a lot, as it becomes much easier to communicate between involved people, to identify potential problems and to optimize workflow. There are flowcharts of different shapes, sizes and types of flowchart vary from quite basic process flowcharts to complex program flowcharts. Nevertheless, all these diagrams use the same set of special symbols like arrows to connect blocks, parallelogram to show data receiving or rectangles for showing process steps.
Basic flowcharts are used to represent a simple process algorithm. A basic flowchart notation consists of rectangles (business processes), arrows (the flow of information, documents, etc.). The same notation is used in items such as the "decision", which allow you to do the branching. To indicate the start of the entire business process and its termination can be used the "Terminator" element. The advantages of Basic Flowchart are simplicity and clarity. With it you can quickly describe the business process steps. Creating of Basic Flowchart does not require any special knowledge, as easily understand by employees with different levels of education and IQ.
Picture: Types of Flowchart: Comprehensive Overview
This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the Pie Charts Solution from Graphs and Charts area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
This sample shows the Pie Chart of the approximate air composition. You can see the percentage of oxygen, nitrogen and other gases in the air visualized on this Pie Chart.
