Project Management

Project Management

TASK DEPENDENCIES: FS / SS / FF / SF IN MS PROJECT PROFESSIONAL


Task Dependencies : To Define the Relationships Between Tasks 


Predecessor :
A predecessor is a task whose start or finish date determines the start or finish date of its successor task.

Successor : 
A successor is a task whose start or finish date is driven by its predecessor task.

The nature of the relationship between a predecessor task and a successor task determines the type of task dependency to use. We can use FOUR types of task dependencies.

  1. Finish - To  - Start    [ FS ]
  2. Start   - To  - Start    [ SS ]
  3. Finish - To  - Finish  [ FF ]
  4. Start   - To -  Finish  [ SF ]
For Example, if we have Two tasks, Task 1 and Task 2 in our Testing Project , we can define all the 4 relationships by following steps:

  • If Task 2 is having Predecessor as Task 1, double Click on Task 2 
  • Task Information window will appear
  • In the Predecessor section, select the option from Type Drop down list ( FS / SS / FF / SF)
  • Ok

A. Finish - to  - Start Dependency

Task 1 must finish before Task 2 can start. This is the By Default  Dependency created and very commonly used Relationship in Project.



 B. Start - to  - Start Dependency

 Task 1 and Task 2 must start at the same time.



Benefit of using SS Dependency
Overlapping work helps to reduce the overall duration of a project. In our Testing Project, as we can see from the Total Duration of the Project, we Save 3 days’ work by using SS Dependency.


C. Finish - to  - Finish Dependency

Task 1 and Task 2 must finish at the same time.

FF dependencies also reduce the overall amount of time in Project, same as SS Dependency.
  • If Task 1 will take 5 days to complete, and Task 2 will take 3 days to complete, with FS dependency the overall duration of the two tasks is 8 days.
  • If  we set an FF dependency, the overall duration of the two tasks is only 5 days.

D. Start - to  - Finish Dependency

Task 2 cannot finish until the start of Task 1.  This is VERY RARE scenario of Task in any type of Project.


As we can see Task 2 has been moved from his scheduled Start date due to SF Relationship. 

As an Example,  A particular task needs to finish before a milestone or project finish date, but it doesn't matter exactly when and we don't want a finish  it late to affect the regular task in that scenario we can use SF dependency

12 comments:

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  10. Alex LowNovember 10, 2019 at 10:24 PM

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  11. UnknownSeptember 26, 2020 at 6:33 AM

    This is not correct. A finish-to-finish dependency between tasks 1 and 2 does not force tasks 1 and 2 to finish on the same date, and a start-to-start dependency does not force tasks 1 and 2 to start on the same date.

    See the following definitions of FF and SS dependencies, which were taken directly from a Microsoft support page

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/link-tasks-in-a-project-31b918ce-4b71-475c-9d6b-0ee501b4be57

    Finish-to-Finish (FF)

    The dependent task (B) cannot be completed until the task that it depends on (A) is completed.

    The dependent task can be completed at any time after the task that it depends on is completed. The FF link type does not require that both tasks be completed at the same time.

    For example, if you have two tasks, "Add wiring" and "Inspect electrical," the "Inspect electrical" task cannot be completed until the "Add wiring" task is completed.


    Start-to-Start (SS)

    The dependent task (B) cannot begin until the task that it depends on (A) begins.

    The dependent task can start at any time after the task that it depends on begins. The SS link type does not require that both tasks begin at the same time.

    For example, if you have two tasks, "Pour concrete" and "Level concrete," the "Level concrete" task cannot begin until the "Pour concrete" task begins.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownSeptember 26, 2020 at 6:33 AM

    This is not correct. A finish-to-finish dependency between tasks 1 and 2 does not force tasks 1 and 2 to finish on the same date, and a start-to-start dependency does not force tasks 1 and 2 to start on the same date.

    See the following definitions of FF and SS dependencies, which were taken directly from a Microsoft support page

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/link-tasks-in-a-project-31b918ce-4b71-475c-9d6b-0ee501b4be57

    Finish-to-Finish (FF)

    The dependent task (B) cannot be completed until the task that it depends on (A) is completed.

    The dependent task can be completed at any time after the task that it depends on is completed. The FF link type does not require that both tasks be completed at the same time.

    For example, if you have two tasks, "Add wiring" and "Inspect electrical," the "Inspect electrical" task cannot be completed until the "Add wiring" task is completed.


    Start-to-Start (SS)

    The dependent task (B) cannot begin until the task that it depends on (A) begins.

    The dependent task can start at any time after the task that it depends on begins. The SS link type does not require that both tasks begin at the same time.

    For example, if you have two tasks, "Pour concrete" and "Level concrete," the "Level concrete" task cannot begin until the "Pour concrete" task begins.

    ReplyDelete

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