Agile Project Management vs. Critical Path Method

CPM works very well when the components of the design and the project are mostly known to all responsible parties. CPM focuses on either a single value-delivery event such as the completion of a building or in major phases such as turning over a floor at a time.  

CPM does not work as well in situations where there are significant “Known-Unknowns” about the plan CPM really breaks down when there are “Unknown-Unknowns”:

• The final destination isn’t crystal clear; even to the leader
• The path to get there has unknowns
• The tools and tactics required to get there aren’t known to the team

In these situations more agile management methods are required either in conjunction with or to replace CPM:

• Objectives & Key Results (OKRs)
• Lean Construction / Last Planner Systems (LPS)
• Continuous Improvement
• Agile PM Basics

There are similarities between all methods.  Develop the systems that work best for your company at this point in time.