Which delay reaches the finish?
Two tasks start together. Their successors meet at D and again at the finish G. Add one unit to a task’s duration, or enter a duration, and compare the new finish with the original 9-unit schedule.
How the calculation works · limits
The forward pass puts every task at its earliest possible start after all predecessors finish. A backward pass finds the latest times that preserve the project finish. Total float is latest start minus earliest start; tasks with zero float are marked critical. Tied routes can make more than one path critical.
This is an invented, deterministic finish-to-start network with no lags, working calendars, resources, deadlines, costs or uncertainty. “Add delay” extends duration; it does not insert a separate waiting event. All durations use the same arbitrary time unit. G starts as a zero-duration finish milestone; assigning it time models a final handover activity.
Try adding 1 to A: its spare time is used up while the finish stays at 9. Reset, then add 1 to B: the finish moves to 10. For the wider scheduling method and its checks, see the GAO Schedule Assessment Guide.
Schedule and dependencies
Brown bars and “critical” labels identify zero-float tasks; green bars have spare time. Dashed lines connect finish to successor start. A diamond marks a zero-duration milestone.
Experiment with durations
| Task | Predecessors | Duration | Change | Earliest start / finish | Latest start / finish | Total float | Status |
|---|