What is one critical difference between a bar chart and the Critical Path Method (CPM)?

The distinction between a bar chart and the Critical Path Method (CPM) is primarily based on how they represent project schedules and activities. A bar chart, often referred to as a Gantt chart, visually displays the duration of activities over time but does not illustrate the dependencies or relationships between those tasks. This means that while it can show when tasks start and finish, it lacks detail on how one task may depend on another, which is a crucial element in project management for identifying potential delays and critical paths.

On the other hand, the Critical Path Method explicitly accounts for dependencies, helping project managers understand the sequence of tasks that directly affect the project completion time. This method not only highlights which tasks are critical but also which activities can be delayed without impacting the overall schedule. Therefore, the absence of dependency representation in a bar chart is a fundamental difference that impacts how project timelines are analyzed and managed.