• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Project Management Knowledge

Simply explained by a PMI-certified Project Manager

  • Home
  • Acronyms and Abbreviations
  • Definitions
  • About the Author
  • Deutsch
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Definitions / D / Discretionary Dependency

Discretionary Dependency

The strength of the project schedule is based on the definition of the activities, deliverables, estimation of effort and durations, organizations and sequence of the work efforts. All of the three elements are very crucial in effective project planning. The problem, however, is that most project managers struggle with organizing the project. In project management, it is important for the project team to create a work breakdown structure that is arranged in a structured and sequenced manner. Thus, managing dependencies are crucial.

Dependencies depict the relationship of the preceding tasks to the succeeding tasks. Tasks can have multiple preceding and succeeding tasks. In project management, there are three types of dependencies that can lead to the creation of a strong project schedule. These include the (1) mandatory dependencies, (2) external dependencies and (3) discretionary dependencies.

The discretionary dependency, also called soft logic, reflect how project teams anticipate the work to be completed. This type of dependency allows the project team to optimize the flow of the work through the project life cycle. Simply put, activities can happen the same time as another group of activities.  Project managers utilize this dependency to create a “float” on the schedule.

It is also defined as the process that utilizes the best practice techniques in the industry based on the experience of the project manager and the team. It also works within a particular application area of a particular project where a specific sequence is needed.

To ensure that the project dependency is effectively managed, it is important for the project managers to use different tools and strategies. These include the use of date constraints and summary task for dependencies.  Looking for activities without predecessors and successors is also an effective way to manage dependencies.

This term is defined in the 5th edition of the PMBOK.

Related Articles:

 
  • Hard Logic  In project management, tasks are dependent on other tasks. This means that tasks are related with one another. The dependency...
  •  
  • Soft Logic – (see discretionary dependency)  A relationship that is established based on knowledge of best practices within a particular application area or an aspect of...
  •  
  • Dependency  See logical relationship This term is defined in the 3rd and the 4th edition of the PMBOK. Get free Project...
  •  
  • Dependency Determination  Dependencies are defined as relationships among tasks that determine the sequence in which project management activities need to be performed. ...
  •  
  • External Dependency  Dependencies are logical relationships between project activities.  The dependencies of tasks mean that you cannot proceed to another task if...
  • Primary Sidebar

    Dear Visitor, I am a PMP (Project Management Professional), certified by the Project Management Institute since 2004. I have been managing dozens of projects, small and huge, successful and unsuccessful. This site is supposed to help you learn the required vocabulary of the project management world. Please feel free to check my certification status or to learn more about me.

    Copyright © 2021

    • Privacy Policy