yogsoth-ai Strategy: Critical Path Planning
Key Question: What is the shortest path?
Methodology
Critical Path Method (CPM) adapted for experiment execution:
- Activity Listing — enumerate all implementation tasks
- Dependency Sequencing — determine predecessor/successor relationships
- Duration Estimation — three-point PERT (optimistic, most likely, pessimistic)
- Forward Pass — calculate earliest start/finish for each activity
- Backward Pass — calculate latest start/finish, identify zero-float path
- Resource Leveling — resolve resource conflicts on parallel paths
- Buffer Insertion — add project buffer (Critical Chain method) at convergence points
Execution Flow
activity-listing
→ dependency-sequencing
→ duration-estimation
→ critical-path-calculation
→ [resource leveling if conflicts]
→ [buffer insertion]
→ OUTPUT: annotated task graph with critical path highlighted
Budget Gate
| Step | Max Budget | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Activity listing | 5% | Complete activity list |
| Dependency + Duration | 10% | Sequenced, estimated network |
| CPM calculation | 5% | Critical path + float table |
Key Decisions
- If critical path is too long: look for fast-tracking (parallel execution) or crashing (more resources)
- If resource conflicts exist: prioritize critical path tasks over float tasks
- Buffer size: typically 50% of critical chain duration (Goldratt's recommendation)
Available Tactics
Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.
| Tactic | When to use |
|---|---|
| task-decomposition | Orchestrate the breakdown of experiment design into sequenced, estimated, and formatted task plan |
Available SOPs
Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.
| SOP | When to use |
|---|---|
| activity-listing | Enumerate all implementation activities from an experiment design |
| critical-path-calculation | CPM forward/backward pass with float calculation to identify the critical path |
| dependency-sequencing | Determine task dependencies and execution order |
| duration-estimation | Three-point PERT estimation for implementation activities |