Dinner Delays and the Critical Path: Why Projects Run at the Speed of the Slowest Task

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Ever waited at a restaurant while everyone’s food was ready except one steak — and the whole table had to wait? That’s the critical path in action. In this episode, Scott Payne breaks down how a dinner out mirrors the reality of project schedules. You’ll learn:

• Why the slowest task (the “steak”) determines when the whole project is done

• How dependencies create chains that can make or break your timeline

• The role of float (wiggle room) in keeping things flexible

• What Goldratt’s “Herbie” teaches us about bottlenecks

• How to spot and manage your own project’s critical path

By the end, you’ll see how understanding your critical path — and focusing resources where it matters most — keeps your project moving and your team finishing strong.