Similarly to its counterpart path convergence, path divergence plays a significant and important role in the life of a project and the attempts by the project management team. In regards to project management specifically, path divergence refers to the instance in which the project management team and or project management team leader represents the act of actually extending or generating parallel schedule networkpaths from the same point, or node, on the pre-existing project schedule network diagram. Ultimately, when all is said and done, the actions of path divergence when conducted by the project management team and the project management team leader involves the act of characterizing a preexisting schedule activity into with more than one single successor activity. Path convergence is quite common to find as a project unfolds and it can cause for confusion if not handled carefully by the project team.

This term is defined in the 3rd and the 4th edition of the PMBOK.

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