Sequencing Activities
Sequencing activities means identifying and mapping the relationships among the project activities. The sequence of activities is determined based on their dependencies, which can be mandatory (inherent in the nature of the work), discretionary (preferential or best-practice sequence), or external (depending on a factor outside of the project). A typical tool used for this process is the Network Diagram, where nodes denote activities, and edges denote dependencies. This process directly affects the project schedule and has a big impact on project risk, as a mistake in sequencing can lead to increased project duration, costs, and risks.
Sequencing Activities: An Exam Guide
Sequencing Activities is a key part of Project Time Management within the framework of CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management).
What is Sequencing Activities?
It involves identifying and documenting relationships among the project activities. It's important as it helps establish the order of work to ensure project success within time constraints.
How Does It Work?
Sequencing activities usually follows a 'Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)', which creates a visual sequence of work. 'Dependency Determination' is used to identify the types of dependencies in project activities.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Sequencing Activities
1. Understand key terminologies: Be familiar with terms like 'Lead', which allows acceleration of the successor activity; 'Lag', which requires delay; and 'Float', which is the amount of time that a project activity can be delayed without delaying the project.
2. Categorize dependencies: Project questions often test one's ability to categorize dependencies into Mandatory, Discretionary, and External. Understanding these categories will help answer the questions correctly.
3. Practice diagram reading: Questions may come in the form of diagrams; a strong grasp on reading and understanding those can help in the exam.
4. Review project scenarios: Practice with a variety of project scenarios to improve your decision-making skills in establishing sequence order.
5. Know your formulas: Float calculations are usual in these question types, so know your formulas for early and late starts and finishes.
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