Lesson 4 Key Terms

Constraint

A limit which controls the start or finish date or the extent to which the task can be adjusted.

Critical Path

A series of tasks that directly affect the finish date of the project.

Recurring task

A task that is repeated at specific intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.

Fixed Duration

A type of task in which the duration value is fixed.

Fixed Work

A type of task in which the work value is held constant.

Fixed units

A type of task where the unit's value does not change.

Split

An interruption in a task, represented in by a dotted line between the two segments of the gnat bar representing the task.

Inflexible constraint

Forces a task to begin or end on a specific date, and should be used only when necessary.

Semi-flexible constraint

Gives Project the ability to change task start and finish dates (but not duration) within one date boundary

Flexible constraint

Gives project the ability to change start or finish dates (this is the default type)

Float (or Slack)

Is the amount of time a task can be delayed without causing a delay to another task of the overall Project.

Total Float (or total slack)

Is the amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the project end date.

Task Type

Specifies which value in the formula remains fixed if one of the other two values changes.

Noncritical tasks

Tasks whose finish does not impact the scheduled project end date.

Free Slack (or free float)

The amount of time a task can be delayed before it will delay another task or the project end date.

Slack (or Float)

The amount of time a task can be delayed without causing a delay to another task or the project end date.

Negative slack (or Negative float)

The amount of time that tasks overlap due to a conflict between task relationships and constraints.

Negative Float (or Negative Slack)

The amount of time that tasks overlap due to a conflict between task relationships.

Task Calendar

The base calendar created for individual tasks to manage the scheduling of these tasks differently from the project calendar - used for ensuring the integrity of leveling.

Fully Allocated

The condition of a resource when the total work of its task assignments is exactly equal to that resource's work capacity.

Allocation

The portion of a resource's capacity devoted to work on a specific task.

Under Allocated

The work assigned to a resource is less than the resources maximum capacity.

Over allocated

The work assigned to a resource is more than the resources maximum capacity.