Project Management Dependencies Complete Guide with Examples-

Imagine you’re building a house. You need to put the walls up before you can paint them. Painting the walls is dependent on the walls being built.

Projects, just like real life, don’t happen in a vacuum and have their own sets of project dependencies and constraints irrespective of the industry. Finding an isolated project activity or task is nearly impossible as projects are inherently interconnected.

Many managers consider identifying and handling dependencies in project management as one of the most important and consequential tasks.

Types of Dependencies and Examples Faced by Project Managers

When managing projects, project managers frequently run across several kinds of dependencies. These dependencies can impact the project scheduling, resource allocation, and overall success.?

Here are some typical dependencies and samples of each:

Mandatory Dependencies: This is the other side of sub dependencies, frequently referred to as soft dependencies. These are constraints whose origin is like the work. To the point that the particular point is done, nothing starts until everything goes in a specific order which doesn’t leave any chance of flexibility. Example: In a construction project, pouring mortar (Task A) is an indispensable part of the succeeding task of setting up the walls (Task B). No height of masonry can be achieved until the structure is sturdy and safe.

Individual Dependencies: Also known as individual or informal dependencies these are dependencies entities that comply with best practices or simply the team is habituated with. They provide freedom in organizing the sequence of goals. They are flexible and allow the order of tasks to be changed. Example: If it’s software development the team may decide to do Code Reviewing (Task C) before entering the testing phase (Task D). However, it is unnecessary here to do it this way, and the beginning of the testing stage can theoretically start without finalizing code reviews.

External Dependencies: These mutualities usually originate from sources not in the domain of the project team that contest different conditions involving external parties like suppliers, inputs, and regulators. Example: If a project must contain a third-party software component, the development task (Task E) may be later than it was expected to be because of the software provider as its schedule might be changed.

Internal Dependencies: The internal dependencies in the project team are in the team’s control and normally involve the revision of schedules according to the speed of required tasks or the availability of resources within the team. Example: For a marketing campaign, sewing up promotional materials (Task F) by your team is an internal predecessor way into the next task of making online ads (Task G). The design has to be over before the ads can be written.

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively managing dependencies in https://oas36ty.com/blog/project-management-software is essential for project success. It ensures smoother workflows, timely deliverables, and better project outcomes.

To enhance your skills in this crucial aspect of project management, consider enrolling in Invensis Learning’s PMP Certification course. Gain the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate dependencies and drive your projects to success confidently.