CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005)Project Management ConceptsMedium
A project manager is reviewing the project schedule and identifies Task A, which has a duration of 3 days. Task B, with a duration of 5 days, cannot start until Task A is 50% complete. What type of logical relationship exists between Task A and Task B?
- AFinish-to-Start (FS)
- BStart-to-Finish (SF)
- CStart-to-Start (SS)
- DFinish-to-Finish (FF)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Start-to-Start (SS)
The relationship states that Task B 'cannot start until Task A is 50% complete'. This means the start of Task B is dependent on the start of Task A, with a lag or lead. Since Task B starts after Task A has started (and progressed to 50%), it's a Start-to-Start (SS) relationship with a lead or lag.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Finish-to-Start (FS) means one task must finish before the next can start.
- B. Start-to-Finish (SF) means one task cannot finish until another task has started.
- D. Finish-to-Finish (FF) means one task cannot finish until another task has finished.
Start-to-Start (SS) Dependency
A logical relationship where the successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity has started. It can include a lag or lead time.
- Successor starts after predecessor starts.
- Often used when tasks can be partially parallel.
- Example: 'Pour foundation' can start when 'Excavate site' starts, but not necessarily immediately.
Memory trick: FS, SS, FF, SF: Friends Start, Sisters Finish, Fathers Start, Sons Finish.