Displaying dependencies for a workshop

[inay]

Hello

I am working with project members who are not familiar with MS Project. I
have a detailed list of tasks already with some predecessor links and need
to be able to provide a way of easily understanding/viewing predecessor
relationships between tasks. Is there a report or diagramattic way of
displaying these links. I intend use this as the basis for a workshop with
key people from the different areas to thrash out the interdependencies. The
idea will be to come up with a comprehensive listing of the dependencies by
the end of the workshop. I have access to a large format printer if required.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Try the Network Diagram view.
HTH

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

As an aside, be careful in presenting this material to the group that you
keep them fixed on just what dependencies represent. The
predecessor/successor links are not there to create a particular desired
time structure nor are they to prioritize tasks into the order that it is
desired they be done. Links describe a physical dependency between the
tasks involve that mandate a certain timeing - if the project is viewed as a
process, the links describe the flow of material and information through the
process. We don't have "erect walls" a predecessor to "install roof"
becausse the framing people are available in June while the roofers are
available in August. "Erect walls" is the predecessor because gravity
doesn't allow us the option of hanging the roof in mid-air and stuffing the
walls in under it later on <grin>. Sometime newcomers like you're working
with reason "let's do this first and then we can do that" without
considering what makes it a necessity to do it in that order.