Abstract: For many service companies – e.g., construction companies, advertising agencies, market research companies, software developers, and many others – each product is a complete project contracted with and completed for customers. To be competitive, these types of companies must deliver their projects on time and with a high degree of reliability to maintain customer satisfaction. For this reason, the successful managing of projects, including cycle time reduction and the full-scope delivery of the final product, are key competitive advantages and contribute to the notion of logistics service quality. This study contrasts the performance of two differing approaches to managing projects: the traditional Critical Path Method as it has customarily been implemented and the newer Critical Chain Method, including its behavioral components as well as its scheduling differentiators. The findings show that Critical Chain, properly implemented, offers a significant time-saving advantage over the Critical Path Method.
