A general contractor uses a critical path method (CPM) schedule mainly to:
Explanation
The critical path is the longest chain of dependent activities in the schedule, so its length is the shortest time the project can take and it fixes the completion date; finding that chain is what a CPM schedule is built for. Spreading overhead across cost codes and comparing actual hours to the bid are job-costing exercises done from the accounting records, not from the schedule network. The retention percentage comes from the contract, not from any schedule calculation.
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