What are dependencies in project management?

A project dependency must be completed in sequential order to other dependencies, meaning one task cannot start without the previous task in the sequence being started or completed.

Project dependencies are a critical part of project management and project planning. When a project has a clear series of tasks, it helps ensure that the project team, or teams, complete the necessary work accurately and efficiently.

There are several different types of key dependencies in project management, including:

• Logical

  Logical dependencies adhere to a logic-based binary, such as an "if-then" statement. This means certain tasks must finish before others can run. Logical dependencies follow a predetermined path from start to completion.

• Resource-Based

  Resource-based dependencies have to do with specific resources rather than tasks. These might be focused on the availability of materials, labor, funding, software, and upgrades.

• Preferential

  Preferential dependencies refer to protocols and best practices for executing a specific task. They might incorporate the necessity for data to mature or some other element of a project to come into focus before starting the next task in the sequence.

• Cross-Team

  Cross-Team dependencies involve deliverables and tasks completed by other teams participating in a project. For example, a team of software engineers must finish a specific project before the sales team can begin to market and sell it.

• External

  External dependencies point to conditions outside the company or organization's control. These could relate to many things, such as industry regulations, laws, new legislation, bureaucracy, or even physical events like the weather.