PERT vs. CPM: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between PERT and CPM is that PERT is used for projects with uncertain activity times whereas CPM is used for projects with known activity times.
Before we move to more differences, let’s first understand PERT and CPM:
- PERT: PERT, or Program Evaluation and Review Technique, is a project management technique used to analyze and represent the tasks and activities involved in completing a project.
- CPM: CPM, or Critical Path Method, is a project management technique used to identify the critical path, or sequence of tasks, that will determine the total duration of the project.
Now, let’s get to PERT vs CPM:
Major differences between PERT and CPM
| PERT | CPM |
|---|---|
| PERT uses probabilistic time estimates. | CPM uses deterministic time estimates. |
| PERT includes a three-point estimation method. | CPM uses a single estimate for each task. |
| PERT focuses on the critical path and its impact on the project schedule. | CPM focuses on the sequence of tasks and their dependencies. |
| PERT is often used for complex projects with many interdependent tasks. | CPM is often used for projects with a smaller number of tasks that are well-defined. |
| PERT is used for projects with uncertain activity times. | CPM is used for projects with known activity times. |
So, these are the main differences between the entities.
Also see:
You can see other “differences between…” posts by clicking here.
If you have a related query, kindly feel free to let me know in the comments below.
