Which tool focuses on task dependencies and the critical path in a project schedule?

• A. Gantt Chart
• B. Kanban Board
• C. Work Breakdown Structure
• D. PERT Diagram

Answer: (D)

Scheduling networks that map task dependencies and identify the critical path are what this item targets. A PERT diagram, also called a network diagram, lays out activities as nodes and draws arrows to show which tasks must precede others. By analyzing these dependencies and using duration estimates, you compute the earliest and latest start/finish times and find the longest path through the network—the critical path. That path determines the project’s minimum completion time, because any delay on it delays the whole project. This focus on the sequence of tasks and their interdependencies is what makes a PERT diagram the best fit for this question.

Compare that to a Gantt chart, which presents the project schedule in a calendar timeline and is great for tracking progress, but doesn’t inherently emphasize the network of dependencies or the critical path. A Kanban board visualizes workflow and throughput, not the sequencing of tasks and dependencies. A Work Breakdown Structure helps with organizing scope and deliverables, not scheduling relationships. So the PERT diagram is the tool that centers on dependencies and the critical path.