Urgent - lag time

[beth]

hi, if i have a task such as purchase software that has a fixed duration of 20d, and other tasks after it are dependent on ithe software, do i assume that this software will be bought in batches say 2 days into the duration so that work can start off on the succeding tasks?is this assumption ideal ideal? cause i cant think of another way out to avoid that long period of (20d) wait.

 

[Rob Schneider]

I guess the answer is that "it depends".

If in fact purchasing software takes 20 days, and that successor tasks
are defendant on the completion of this task, then that's the way it is.
On the other hand, if you are buying software in 2-day batches after
which work can progress, then put in tasks for each "batch procurement
activity" with shorter duration (2 days) and link the defendant
successor tasks on them.

Model it the way it is for your project.


rms

 

[Steve House]

What do you mean by saying the "purchase software" task has a fixed duration
of 20 days? Are you saying that once it is ordered you expect it will be
delivered in 20 days? I tend to like the idea that the task is limited to
the actual physical work. If it takes 3 hours to fill out the purchase
order and get it signed then call the software vendor and place the order,
then you wait 3 weeks for delivery and then you'll install it, the "order
software" task is not 21 days. The order task is 3 hours in duration
followed by a 21 day lag time waiting for delivery and then the installation
task. So the project plan would show "order" with a duration of 3 hours
linked FS to "install" and a 21 days lag time in the link to position the
install 3 weeks after the order is placed.

--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer/Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

hi, if i have a task such as purchase software that has a fixed duration

of 20d, and other tasks after it are dependent on ithe software, do i assume
that this software will be bought in batches say 2 days into the duration
so that work can start off on the succeding tasks?is this assumption ideal
ideal? cause i cant think of another way out to avoid that long period of
(20d) wait.