CPM or Critical Path Method: How CPM Disrespects People

How CPM Disrespects People in Construction

The Critical Path Method (CPM) has been a widely used scheduling tool in construction, but what if I told you, it fundamentally disrespects people? In this blog, we’re going to break down exactly how CPM fails teams, creates inefficiencies, and ultimately hurts project outcomes.

What is CPM?

CPM structures a project as a sequence of activities tied together with logic. The algorithm determines a “critical path,” meaning any delay in these tasks pushes the entire project timeline. While this may sound effective, the reality is far from it.

The Lack of Collaboration:

One of the biggest flaws of CPM is how it’s created. Instead of being a collaborative effort involving the whole team, it’s often developed in isolation—usually by a scheduler or superintendent. This leads to several issues:

• The team lacks visibility into the plan.
• There’s no opportunity for fresh eyes to catch errors.
• The complexity makes it nearly impossible to understand once there are hundreds of activities.

By removing human input and relying solely on a computer algorithm, CPM strips teams of the ability to create realistic, practical plans.

CPM as a Tool for Control, Not Success:

Another major issue is how CPM schedules are used on-site. Instead of serving as a flexible planning tool, they are often forced upon trade partners with no room for adjustments. Teams are told to follow the plan or face liquidated damages, cure notices, and other penalties.

The problem? CPM schedules have a hit rate of only 15-40%. They aren’t realistic, yet they are used to control, restrict, and even punish teams rather than support them.

The Reality of CPM Scheduling:

When CPM algorithms run their calculations, they artificially compress activities. This results in:

• Trade stacking: Multiple trades working in the same space, causing inefficiencies.
• Crew burnout: Overloaded schedules that demand excessive overtime.
• Material chaos: Excess materials on-site, leading to clutter, damage, and unsafe conditions.
• Financial strain: Unnecessary costs for both the project and the trade partners.

What’s worse, CPM doesn’t actually speed up projects. When you push work beyond the capacity of available resources, the project ultimately takes longer—despite all the rushing and scrambling.

A Better Approach:

Rather than relying on CPM, construction teams should focus on flow-based planning. Keeping work in line with trade capacity ensures steady progress, better quality, and a healthier work environment. When planning is collaborative and transparent, everyone benefits—from workers in the field to project owners.