Project management acronyms: In network planning, CPM stands for which term?

Introduction / Context:
CPM is a fundamental technique in project management for planning, scheduling, and controlling complex projects by identifying the longest path of dependent activities that determines the minimum project duration.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Activities with specified durations and precedence relationships.
• No resource leveling in the basic algorithm.
• Deterministic activity times in classic CPM (PERT uses probabilistic times).

Concept / Approach:
Critical Path Method computes earliest and latest start/finish times, floats, and identifies the critical path with zero total float. Managing critical activities prevents schedule slippage.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare computed project duration with simulation or historical benchmarks; changes in any critical activity immediately change total duration.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Alternative expansions are nonstandard; CPM universally abbreviates Critical Path Method.

Common Pitfalls:
Ignoring resource constraints and assuming durations are fixed; in practice, resource leveling may alter the critical path.

Final Answer:
Critical Path Method