CPM Use in ENR Top 400 Contractors

The results of a questionnaire that reports the use of the critical path method (CPM) in the top 400 construction companies as rated by the \IEngineering News-Record\N are presented. Special attention is paid to application of CPM, degree of success with CPM, importance of CPM, and other planning, scheduling, and control techniques. The questionnaire responses are tabulated based on annual volume of construction, and the results are compared with a previous survey done by Davis in 1974 to indicate trends. The use of CPM by the top construction firms has increased over the past 15 years, and CPM is utilized more effectively today. The availability of good project-management software, the improvement in hardware, lower costs, and better educated personnel, among other factors, have led to increased utilization of CPM. Effective use of CPM can be the key to success for construction firms now and in the future. The main reason behind the unsuccessful use of CPM is still the lack of support from employees.