A discrete piece of work with a defined start and end. The formal term for what's commonly called a 'task'. Used interchangeably in practice.
A saved snapshot of the schedule at a point in time (usually after initial planning or approval). Used to compare current status against the original plan.
The longest sequence of dependent tasks in a project. It determines the minimum project duration. Any delay on the critical path delays the project.
A logical link between tasks that defines their sequence. The most common type is Finish-to-Start: Task B cannot start until Task A finishes.
The time required to complete a task, measured in work hours or days. Duration is work time, not calendar time — it doesn't include non-working days.
The total person-hours required for a task. A 40-hour effort might have a 5-day duration with one person, or a 1-day duration with five people.
A dependency type where the successor cannot finish until the predecessor finishes. Both tasks can proceed in parallel.
The most common dependency type. The successor cannot start until the predecessor finishes. The default in most PM tools.
The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the project's finish date. Tasks with zero float are on the critical path.
A deadline constraint. In Consequent, if the calculated finish exceeds this date, the system flags a violation rather than silently blocking.
A bar chart showing tasks plotted against time. Developed by Henry Gantt around 1910, it remains the standard visualization for project schedules.
A delay added to a dependency (e.g., 'Task B starts 3 days after Task A finishes'). Consequent discourages lag in favor of explicit waiting tasks.
A zero-duration marker representing a significant point in time: 'Contract signed', 'Phase complete'. Milestones mark events, not work.
A task that must happen before another task. In 'A → B', task A is the predecessor of task B.
A constraint that prevents a task from being scheduled before a specific date, regardless of when its dependencies are satisfied.
A rare dependency type where the successor cannot finish until the predecessor starts. Used in just-in-time scenarios.
A dependency type where the successor cannot start until the predecessor starts. Both tasks begin around the same time.
A task that depends on another task. In 'A → B', task B is the successor of task A.
A task that contains child tasks. Its duration is calculated from its children. Also called a 'hammock' or 'roll-up' task.
The common term for a discrete piece of work in a project. Technically 'activity' is more precise, but 'task' dominates in practice.
A hierarchical decomposition of the project into phases, deliverables, and tasks. The structure that organizes your schedule.
A project management methodology where work flows sequentially through defined phases. Each phase must complete before the next begins.