This report describes the critical path method (CPM), a system for planning and scheduling work to get the best time-cost combination for any particular job. With the use of diagrams, the report describes how CPM works on a step-by-step basis. CPM uses a network to show which parts of a job must be done and how they would eventually fit together to complete the entire job. These parts of a job are called activities. At the beginning and end of each activity there is a numbered event. The major benefit of CPM is seeing all of the related things required to complete a job being put down on paper in the order in which they must be done. (Author/CS)