What does project crashing primarily involve?

Project crashing primarily involves shortening the duration of a project by applying additional resources to critical tasks without changing the overall scope of the project. This technique is often used to meet deadlines or mitigate delays, allowing a project to be completed earlier than originally planned.

When a project is in need of acceleration, project managers will evaluate which activities can be expedited, often focusing on the critical path, which determines the minimum project duration. By adding more resources—such as labor, equipment, or even potentially working overtime—certain tasks may be completed more quickly.

In contrast, extending the project timeline runs counter to the goal of crashing, which is to complete tasks sooner. Improving communication would contribute to overall project success but is not the primary mechanism of crashing. While increasing the project budget may be a consequence of the additional resources needed to shorten the project duration, it is not the essence of what project crashing entails. Thus, the focus remains clearly on reducing the time it takes to complete the project effectively.