Arrow
An arrow in the literal sense is a projectile designed to be fired from a bow at a fixed or moving target, often used in hunting or contests of sport. In a more broad sense, an arrow refers to any directional symbol that offers guidance as to the path one should follow (often used in signage, painted on roads, etc.). In the project management arena, an arrow refers to the presentation of a schedule activity in a graphical format through use of a logical relationship between schedule activities in the precedence diagramming method or, more commonly perhaps, the
arrow diagramming method. Arrows can be used to illustrate periods of time in some uses, such as in reference to the gap of time that it will take to move from one schedule event to another. Or, when used in a less detail oriented chart or display, can merely be a way to illustrate graphically the order in which schedule events are expected (and in most cases are required) to take place in order to get from the start of a project to the desired endpoint.
This term is defined in the 3rd edition of the PMBOK but not in the 4th.
Related Posts
- Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) [Technique]
The arrow diagramming method (ADM) refers to a schedule network diagramming technique in which the schedule activites within a given project are represented by the use of arrows. The beginning of the schedule activity is represented by the tail, or base, of the arrow. The pointed end of the arrow represents the endpoint of a [...]
- Activity-on-Arrow (AOA)
See arrow diagramming method This term is defined in the 3rd edition of the PMBOK but not in the 4th.
- Dummy Activity
A dummy activity is a simulated activity of sorts, one that is of a zero duration and is created for the sole purpose of demonstrating a specific relationship and path of action on the arrow diagramming method. Dummy activities are a useful tool to implement when the specific logical relationship between two particular activities on [...]
- Node
In the context of project management, the term node refers to any one of a number of miscellaneous defining points that exist as part of the project’s schedule network. These specific definition points that exist as part of the project’s schedule network in most cases have been pre-determined by the project management team and or [...]
- Activity Sequencing [Process]
The term activity sequencing refers within the context of project management to a dual process. Initially, activity sequencing involves a specific process of the identification of dependencies among a series of schedule activities. The next step of activity sequencing involves the documentation of the said series of dependencies among those schedule activities. More specifically, activity [...]