Planning Basics
This technique helps you figure out when tasks should start and end.
What is Schedule Network Analysis?
This list shows all the major checkpoints and whether they are required or optional.
What is a Milestone List?
This is the most common relationship: the next task starts only after the first one finishes.
What is Finish-to-Start?
This type of dependency is based on best practice or preferred order, but it could be changed.
What is a Discretionary Dependency?
This software helps organize, plan, and track project activities.
What is Project Management Software?
This estimate represents the best possible (fastest) amount of time a task could take.
What is the Optimistic Estimate (tO)?
These reusable documents make planning easier because they come from past projects.
What are templates?
This process writes down how tasks are connected and which must come first.
What is sequencing activities?
In this relationship, two tasks must finish at the same time.
What is Finish-to-Finish?
This dependency comes from something outside the project team’s control.
What is an External Dependency?
This estimate is based on a similar project done in the past.
What is Analogous Estimating?
This estimate represents the worst possible (slowest) time a task could take.
What is the Pessimistic Estimate (tP)?
This list includes every single task that needs to be done in a project.
What is an Activity List?
This chart shows tasks on the left and time on the top with bars showing duration.
What is a Gantt Chart?
In this relationship, two tasks begin at the same time.
What is Start-to-Start?
This speeds up a project by starting a task earlier than normal.
What is a Lead?
This estimate uses math, such as cost per unit or hours per unit, to predict total effort.
What is Parametric Estimating?
This calculation uses the formula (tO + 4tM + tP) ÷ 6.
What is Expected Duration (tE)?
These describe details about activities, like ID numbers, names, or required resources.
What are Activity Attributes?
This diagram method uses boxes and arrows to show task order.
What is a PDM?
In this rare relationship, one task cannot finish until another task has started.
What is Start-to-Finish?
This delays a task by a certain amount of time.
What is a lag?
This method uses three numbers—best, worst, and most likely—to calculate time.
What are Three-Point Estimates?
This technique adds buffer time to protect the schedule from risk or uncertainty.
What is Reserve Analysis?
This simple tool shows where the big accomplishments happen in a project.
What is a Milestone?
This term describes how tasks depend on each other in a project.
What is a Dependency?
This type of dependency is required and unavoidable—like steps in a recipe.
What is a Mandatory Dependency?
This estimation method breaks work into tiny pieces and adds all the estimates together.
What is bottom-up estimating?
This is the middle value of the three-point estimate—the estimate that is most realistic.
What is the Most Likely Estimate?
This term refers to using extra time built into the schedule to handle unexpected problems.
What is Reserves or Buffers?