CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005)Project Management ConceptsMedium
A project manager is reviewing the project schedule and identifies a task, 'User Acceptance Testing (UAT)', that cannot start until 'Software Development' is 100% complete. Furthermore, 'UAT' must finish before 'Deployment' can begin. What type of dependency is described between 'Software Development' and 'User Acceptance Testing (UAT)'?
- AFinish-to-Start (FS)
- BFinish-to-Finish (FF)
- CStart-to-Start (SS)
- DStart-to-Finish (SF)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Finish-to-Start (FS)
The statement 'UAT cannot start until Software Development is 100% complete' perfectly describes a Finish-to-Start (FS) dependency, where the successor activity (UAT) can only begin after its predecessor (Software Development) is finished.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Finish-to-Finish means the successor activity cannot finish until the predecessor activity has finished.
- C. Start-to-Start means the successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity has started.
- D. Start-to-Finish means the successor activity cannot finish until the predecessor activity has started; this is rarely used.
Finish-to-Start (FS) Dependency
A logical relationship where a successor activity cannot start until a predecessor activity has finished. It is the most common type of dependency.
- Predecessor must complete before successor begins.
- Represented as A → B.
- Forms the basis of critical path calculations.
Memory trick: Activities link up: Start to Start, Finish to Start, Finish to Finish, Start to Finish.