Task Relationships in Microsoft Project

Task Relationships in Microsoft Project

Task Relationships in Microsoft Project. Last week I blogged about the different Task Relationships: The links between the tasks in the Dependency Chart. There are four main relationship types, and we looked at each in turn. Each Relationship Type can also be affected by Lead Time and Lag Time.

This blog will look at how to apply those relationship types in Microsoft Project.

Finish to Start Task Relationships in Microsoft Project

The Finish to Start relationship means that the first task must finish before the second task can start. The Dependency chart shows it as follows. The ‘X’ denotes the Lead Time (a negative number) or Lag Time (a positive number).

Start to Finish

The following clip shows how this can be achieved in Microsoft Project.

Start to Start

The Start to Start relationship means that the first task and the second task should start at the same time. The Dependency chart shows it as follows. The ‘X’ denotes the Lead Time (a negative number) or Lag Time (a positive number).

Start to Start

The following clip shows how this can be achieved in Microsoft Project.

Finish to Finish

The Finish to Finish relationship means that the first task must finish at the same time as the second task. The Dependency chart shows it as follows. The ‘X’ denotes the Lead Time (a negative number) or Lag Time (a positive number).

Finish to Finish

The following clip shows how this can be achieved in Microsoft Project.

Start to Finish

The Finish to Start relationship means that the first task cannot start second task has finished. The Dependency chart shows it as follows The ‘X’ denotes the Lead Time (a negative number) or Lag Time (a positive number).

Start to Finish

The following clip shows how this can be achieved in Microsoft Project.

Summary

So that covers the four relationship types, and how to use them in Microsoft Project with Lead Time or Lag Time.

I suggest that wherever possible you keep to the ‘Finish to Start’ relationship type. This keeps the plan simple, and the arrows pointing ‘Left to Right’!