Critical Chain Project Management

Critical Chain Project Management, First Edition, By David Rollason.

This book provides a clear and practical introduction to Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), a modern approach to planning and executing projects that replaces traditional control-based methods with focus, flow, and reliability. Grounded in the Theory of Constraints, CCPM helps organisations deliver projects faster, more predictably, and with less stress by managing uncertainty and optimising the use of limited resources.

The book begins by explaining the limitations of conventional project management practices such as critical path scheduling and multitasking. It introduces the concept of the critical chain, the longest sequence of dependent tasks considering both resource and task constraints, and shows how to protect it using time buffers instead of padded individual estimates. The early chapters cover how CCPM reshapes planning, resource allocation, and execution to ensure work flows smoothly and priorities remain clear.

Through structured explanations, each chapter builds understanding of how CCPM works in practice. Readers learn how to identify constraints, manage project buffers, control work in progress, and measure progress using flow-based indicators. The book also covers multi-project environments, where CCPM prevents resource overload and improves overall throughput across portfolios.

Practical examples demonstrate how CCPM has been applied successfully in industries such as construction, engineering, healthcare, and software development. The results are consistent: shorter lead times, improved on-time delivery, and higher productivity without additional resources. The book highlights not only the technical steps of implementation but also the behavioural and cultural changes required for success.