Forward Pass
A Critical Path Method step that calculates each activity's early start and early finish by moving forward through the schedule network from the project start date or another defined starting point.
Key Points
- Moves left-to-right through the network, accumulating durations along logical links.
- Determines the earliest possible dates; used with the backward pass to find float and late dates.
- Needs activity durations, dependencies, and a specified start or data date.
- Does not account for resource limits unless resource leveling is applied afterward.
Example
On a project starting June 1, Activity A (3 days) precedes Activity B (2 days) and Activity C (4 days). Running the forward pass: A ES/EF = Jun 1/Jun 3, B ES/EF = Jun 4/Jun 5, C ES/EF = Jun 4/Jun 7. The project’s earliest completion is Jun 7, pending downstream activities and paths.
PMP Example Question
Which scheduling technique computes early start and early finish dates by progressing from the project start through the network?
- Forward pass
- Backward pass
- Resource leveling
- What-if analysis
Correct Answer: A — Forward pass
Explanation: The forward pass calculates the earliest dates by moving forward through the schedule. The backward pass calculates late dates, while the other options serve different purposes.
