The scheduling of project tasks is best managed as a network of interdependent tasks. Tasks should have a designated timeframe or duration over which the tasks will be performed as well as an estimate of the amount of work or effort required to get the job accomplished. The advantage of using task dependencies and relationships in Project Insight is that a project manager can easily shift and adjust a schedule without having to change each and every task. Project Insight allows project managers to set up tasks as any of the four task types.
Before purchasing any software solution, always test the software to make certain that it can calculate interdependencies on the following commonly encountered task relationships:
1. Finish-to-Start
2. Start-to-Start
3. Finish-to-Finish
4. Start-to-Finish
In addition to the four required interdependencies, lead and lag time duration calculations between the task dependencies can sometimes be mission critical.
What do I mean by lead time and lag time? Lag time may be used for a task that requires a waiting period. For example, if a task is to pour cement and it must dry for 2 days before the next task can start, that is lag. Lead time is used for a task that can overlap with another task. For example, painting a line in road can start before the entire road is paved.
Once these dependencies are defined in the project schedule, they are displayed visually when viewing the corresponding Gantt chart. Test all task entries for these calculations before buying any project management software.
Cynthia West
Vice President, Project Insight