: A team cannot begin quality testing until the software coding phase is complete.
| Dependency | Logic | When to use | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | A finishes → B starts | Default. Most sequential tasks. | | Start-to-Start (SS) | A starts → B starts | Parallel tasks (e.g., Code and Update Docs ). | | Finish-to-Finish (FF) | A finishes → B finishes | Tasks that must end together (e.g., Record vocals and Mix track ). | | Start-to-Finish (SF) | A starts → B finishes | Rare. Used for shift handovers or continuous coverage. |
In this case, the foundation laying task (Task B) cannot start until the excavation task (Task A) has been completed. This is an example of a Finish to Start dependency, where the start of Task B is dependent on the finish of Task A.
Suppose we are managing a construction project, and we have two tasks:
While the standard FS relationship implies Task B starts the moment Task A ends, project managers often use and lag to reflect real-world nuances: 4 Dependency Types in Project Management (Plus Examples)
Project managers default to FS for a simple reason: it represents natural, cause-and-effect logic. It minimizes risk by ensuring that prerequisites are met before new work begins. Trying to start a successor task before its predecessor is complete (e.g., testing code that hasn’t been written) leads to rework, confusion, and delays.
Predecessor Task (A) must be Finished before Successor Task (B) can Start.
A Finish-to-Start dependency is a logical relationship in which a
If you are building a Project Network Diagram, this is the first relationship you need to master.
You cannot paint a wall (Task B) until you have finished applying the drywall primer (Task A). No matter how fast you want to move, Task A creates the constraint for Task B.
This is the default relationship in virtually all project scheduling software (Microsoft Project, Primavera, Jira, Asana, etc.). If you link two tasks without specifying a type, the software assumes an FS dependency.
About the Author: [Your Name/Company Name] is dedicated to providing practical project management insights that turn complex theory into everyday execution.
: A team cannot begin quality testing until the software coding phase is complete.
| Dependency | Logic | When to use | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | A finishes → B starts | Default. Most sequential tasks. | | Start-to-Start (SS) | A starts → B starts | Parallel tasks (e.g., Code and Update Docs ). | | Finish-to-Finish (FF) | A finishes → B finishes | Tasks that must end together (e.g., Record vocals and Mix track ). | | Start-to-Finish (SF) | A starts → B finishes | Rare. Used for shift handovers or continuous coverage. |
In this case, the foundation laying task (Task B) cannot start until the excavation task (Task A) has been completed. This is an example of a Finish to Start dependency, where the start of Task B is dependent on the finish of Task A.
Suppose we are managing a construction project, and we have two tasks: finish to start dependency
While the standard FS relationship implies Task B starts the moment Task A ends, project managers often use and lag to reflect real-world nuances: 4 Dependency Types in Project Management (Plus Examples)
Project managers default to FS for a simple reason: it represents natural, cause-and-effect logic. It minimizes risk by ensuring that prerequisites are met before new work begins. Trying to start a successor task before its predecessor is complete (e.g., testing code that hasn’t been written) leads to rework, confusion, and delays.
Predecessor Task (A) must be Finished before Successor Task (B) can Start. : A team cannot begin quality testing until
A Finish-to-Start dependency is a logical relationship in which a
If you are building a Project Network Diagram, this is the first relationship you need to master.
You cannot paint a wall (Task B) until you have finished applying the drywall primer (Task A). No matter how fast you want to move, Task A creates the constraint for Task B. | | Start-to-Start (SS) | A starts →
This is the default relationship in virtually all project scheduling software (Microsoft Project, Primavera, Jira, Asana, etc.). If you link two tasks without specifying a type, the software assumes an FS dependency.
About the Author: [Your Name/Company Name] is dedicated to providing practical project management insights that turn complex theory into everyday execution.