Linking Tasks

Using MS Project, watch and follow along with this video on Ways to Link Tasks.

Activity/Task Durations

Using MS Project, watch and follow along with this video on Task Durations.

Deadlines

As our project progresses, we will want some means to keep track of our progress and compare it to our original schedule. Also, outside events or stakeholders can generate deadlines for completion of certain tasks. We should not overlook the fact that simple tracking of deadlines can be very effective and a feature that is built into MS Project. Watch and follow along with this video on Deadlines.

Changing Task Relationships

Watch the following video to learn more about Relationships Between Tasks. You might even want to follow along in MS Project!

A Special Type of Task

While looping is not allowed in project management networks, there are times where we will have a task that we have to repeat many times during our project. Watch the following video to learn about a special type of task that can help us with repeating tasks.

Check Your Knowledge: Lags and Leads

Create a new project with a start date of Oct 11, 2015 and enter the tasks below, linking them using Finish to Start relationships.

1. How many days does this project take?

After reviewing the project schedule, you realize that you cannot paint the walls immediately after the prep work has completed. If repair work, such as filling holes, needs to be completed, you will need to allow time for the spackle to dry. Add one day of lag time to the link between the “Prep Walls for Painting” task and the “Paint Walls” task. To make up time, you decide that “Prep Walls for Painting” can begin when half of the furniture has been cleared (“Remove Furniture”). Enter a lead time into your project to give “Prep Walls” a head start.

Remember that lead times are really negative lag times. You can enter leads and lags as percentages rather than just days.

Finally, you cannot load the furniture back into the room until the paint has fully dried. Enter a two day lag time to account for this.

2. What is the total project duration now?

Set a deadline of November 1st, 2015 for getting the replace furniture task completed.

3. Did this affect the end date of the project?

Compare your answers to the Answer Key at the end of this Lab.

Advanced Task Management Quiz

1. A negative lag time is known as what?

A. Lead time
B. Tuple time
C. Lag time
D. Reverse lag time

2. You want to be reminded of a task’s due date but are reluctant to put an actual finish date on the task. How can you create a reminder for a task’s finish date without affecting the scheduling of this task?

A. Apply a flexible constraint on the task
B. Apply a deadline to the task
C. Delete all constraints applied to the task
D. Apply a moderately flexible constraint on the task

3. What dependency type should you apply when the predecessor task must finish before the successor task starts?

A. Finish to Start
B. Finish to Finish
C. Start to Finish
D. Start to Start

4.The project stakeholders have asked for a status meeting every two weeks throughout the life-cycle of the project. How can you account for this meeting in your project schedule?

A. Check “Repeat Task” in the Advanced tab in the task information dialog box
B. Create one task and then duplicate it for each time it needs to be repeated
C. Use a recurring task
D. Insert a task loop

5. Alice is in charge of editing a book. The author has not started to write it yet, but as soon as he does Alice can start editing the text he has written. What is the relationship between Edit Text and Write Text?

A. Finish to Finish
B. Start to Start
C. Start to Finish
D. Finish to Start

6. George just entered a new task of a duration of 15 days. He wants this task to ignore the standard calendar and have work on the task occur on the weekend. The easiest solution for George is to:

A. Click on “Work Weekends” in the task information dialog box
B. Enter the duration as 1 eMonth
C. Create a new calendar called “Work Weekends” and make the weekends working time
D. Enter the duration as 15 eDays

7. Jim is in charge of finishing the user documentation for a new software program. However, he can’t finish his documentation until the software is finished. What type of relationship does User Documentation have with Program Software?

A. Finish to Finish
B. Finish to Start
C. Start to Start
D. Start to Finish

Answer Key

Check Your Knowledge: Lags and Leads

1. 21 Days

2. 22 Days

3. No

Solution

Advanced Task Management Quiz

1. A – Lead time

2. B – Apply a deadline to the task

3. B – Finish to Finish

4. C – Use a recurring task

5. B – Start to Start

6. D – Enter the duration as 15 eDays

7. A – Finish to Finish