The critical path sounds like a new rock 'em sock 'em blockbuster movie. In project management circles the critical path attracts as much attention as an award show's red carpet, but for very different reasons. It's the sequence of tasks (each one a critical task) with the longest duration, so it controls when a project finishes. If a delay occurs on the critical path, the project finish date slips. So, it's a good idea to keep your eye on the critical path, whether you're building your project schedule or trying to keep the project on track.

Actually, the critical path is the longest duration task sequence without any scheduling wiggle room (aka slack time). Slack time is how much a task's finish date can delay without delaying another part of the project. The path with no slack time is why the critical path affects the finish date. Any change in its dates changes the project finish date. Free slack means a task can move without affecting its successors. Total slack is how much a task can delay without affecting the end of the project.

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