Unlike tasks that are independent of one another (i. e. finish to start task dependencies, for instance, describe a sequence of activities where one task must be completed before another begins. A finish-to-start task dependency illustration would be the requirement to allow a cake to cool before icing.
- Logical dependencies. Also known as causal dependencies. …
- Resource dependencies. This dependency originates from a project constraint as it deals with the availability of shared resources. …
- Preferential dependencies. …
- External dependencies. …
- Cross-team dependencies.
4 standard dependency types in project management
The relationship between the start and finish conditions of the two elements you’re comparing is used as the basis for the traditional method of classifying dependencies. This results in four potential styles of dependency:
1. Finish-to-start dependency
One element needs the completion of another before you can start it in a finish-to-start dependency. This frequently happens when the first element develops a crucial part of the second. Because of this, completing the first element is necessary to ensure that you have the necessary materials or information for the second element.
A newspaper is getting ready to write a feature article about a local politician. A journalist drafts the article to include the interview before submitting the material for publication. In addition to writing, the article needs to be edited by a member of the newspaper’s editorial staff. Because the editor can’t begin editing until the writer has finished their work on an initial draft, the writing and editing processes are interdependent.
2. Finish-to-finish dependency
You must have both elements finished in a finish-to-finish dependency, where you complete the first element before finishing the second. As there is work available for the second element that doesn’t require you to have first finished the first element, you can work on both elements at the same time during this process. This could happen if a component from the first element is needed by the second element at a later stage of development, allowing teams to finish all prior work regardless of the first element’s progress.
As an illustration, a computer manufacturer creates computers to sell to customers. Each department’s workers participate in the production of memory chips and motherboard assembly. Assemblers can work on earlier steps while awaiting the arrival of the memory chips from manufacturing, even though the teams in the assembly department need complete memory chips to complete the assembly.
3. Start-to-start dependency
A first element must begin in a start-to-start relationship before a second one can. Once the elements start, both may run concurrently. This frequently happens when both elements demand a lot of work and the second requires knowledge of the first. As long as the second project adheres to the dependencies of the first element, it can work after the initial element and advance along with it.
An illustration would be a homeowner who moves into a new home and decides to redecorate it. Each room requires a primer coat and a painting coat. Because the homeowner must apply the primer coat before they can apply paint, priming and painting are interdependent from beginning to end. While waiting for the primer in one room to dry, the homeowner can apply primer to the remaining rooms they want to paint, even though the second element (the paint) can only be applied after the first element (the primer).
4. Start-to-finish dependencies
You must finish one component in a start-to-finish dependent relationship before you can start another. This frequently happens when there is a dependency involving the exchange of materials or information between the two elements, necessitating the beginning of work on the receiving element before the other element’s work is finished.
As an illustration, a business produces goods and sells them directly to customers. The business needs both warehouse and shipping operations to deliver a product. Each product that the warehouse and shipping departments send out for delivery is handled collaboratively from beginning to end. The product shipping team must start its task before the warehouse can finish one.
What are dependency types in project management?
The various ways that two or more project elements or projects within an organization interact with one another are referred to as dependency types in project management. Dependencies can change depending on the timing between their various components and the factors that give rise to them. As a project manager, each type of dependency can present particular difficulties.
3 relationship dependency types in project management
Looking at the relationship that led to the dependency is another strategy for investigating dependencies in project management. These connections may be compulsory or optional, depending on your preferences or available resources, and they can range from the following:
1. Causal relationships
In a causal dependency, one element always depends on another. This kind of relationship is also logical because it follows the necessary steps to finish each task or component. Furthermore, causal connections show that one element only alters, completes, or starts if the other element also does.
Example: A car dealership buys trade-ins and unsold inventory from people who are interested in selling their vehicles in order to sell used cars and to supply its stock for this transaction. The dealership must possess full ownership of a used car before they can start listing it for sale. Before they can start displaying the used car to prospective customers for sale, they must first complete all necessary legal paperwork related to the purchase of the vehicle. This is a causal relationship because they can’t sell the car before they own it.
2. Resource constraint relationships
When obstacles prevent you from changing the type of dependency between two elements, there are resource constraints. For instance, manufacturing teams may need to plan specific project elements in accordance with what is available if they have a limited amount of resources or materials. Project managers frequently incorporate scheduling and allocation strategies to ensure that each project element or phase is completed on time, despite resource limitations being a challenge.
Using painted miniatures as player tokens, a board game manufacturer sells its product. Each figure in the game has a distinct personality, and painters can work on them simultaneously with other figures. However, the company only has a few painters on staff, so they are unable to paint every character for a game at once. In its place, they develop a finish-to-start dependency system where a painter finishes one figure for a copy of the game before moving on to the next.
3. Preferential relationships
When you choose a dependency structure that supports your individual preferences for completion, you establish a preferential relationship for the dependency. Even though there are no logical or resource-based justifications for dependency, you might decide that it still represents the best way for your organization to finish a project.
Example: A homeowner buys a house that they plan to remodel to increase its value. They determine that the best way to finish the renovations is to start with the largest projects before moving on to the smaller ones. Then, based on their preferences, they can work in a single room at a time. Because the homeowner chooses which components to start and finish based on their preferences rather than a logical structure of phases or resources, this results in a finish-to-start dependency.
Dependencies in Project Management — Episode 4
FAQ
What are dependencies in project management?
There are 4 types of dependencies in project management viz. Mandatory, Discretionary, External, & Internal.
Which types of dependencies are most common in project schedules?
When it comes to project management, a dependency is a group of related tasks. In project management, there are several different kinds of dependencies: Finish-to-Start: Task B cannot begin until task A has been completed Start-to-Start: Task B cannot start until task A starts.
What is a dependency relationship in project management?
The most frequent and logical type of dependency in project management and in everyday life is an FS, or Finish to Start, dependency.
