Both Critical Path Method (CPM) and Precedence Network Analysis (PNA) belong to family of network analysis techniques.


  • Make use of the network-type graphic model to depict the time plan for execution of the project.
  • Apply the critical path analysis concept for determining project duration and identifying critical activities.
  • Employ these network analysis techniques for scheduling and controlling of projects.
Although CPM and PNA network models may appear different, logically they are similar. For a given project, both CPM and PNA network contain same job activities and durations. In case of networks using finish-to-start logic, even activity times and extent of floats are equal.

Generally, a CPM network can be converted into a PNA network by the following steps:

  • Delete dummy activities and isolated start and end events.
  • Identify preceding events of all the non-dummy activities.
  • Draw boxes around the non-dummy activities to enclose the preceding event, activity description and its duration.
  • Develop PN by linking activity boxes with dependency lines using the finish-to-start relationship.
To quote another example, the PN of the factory project thus developed, along with its CPM network for comparison. Note that PNs having multiple logic constraints cannot be converted into CPM networks without further splitting the affected activities.
Both PNA and CPM are used extensively for planning construction projects. They have some common features as well as significant differences.