Process: Sequence Activities
Process Group: Planning
Knowledge Area: Project Schedule Management
Purpose
The Sequence Activities process involves identifying and documenting relationships among project activities. It establishes the logical order in which tasks must be performed, enabling the creation of a network diagram that supports scheduling, duration estimation, and critical path analysis.
Inputs
- Project Management Plan – Especially the schedule management plan that defines dependency types and constraints.
- Project Documents – Includes the activity list, activity attributes, milestone list, and assumptions log.
- Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs) – Scheduling tools, organizational culture, and project calendar standards.
- Organizational Process Assets (OPAs) – Templates, historical sequencing data, and standard dependency libraries.
Tools and Techniques
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Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) – The primary technique used to visualize activities and their logical relationships:
- Finish-to-Start (FS)
- Start-to-Start (SS)
- Finish-to-Finish (FF)
- Start-to-Finish (SF)
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Dependency Determination and Integration – Identifies:
- Mandatory dependencies (hard logic)
- Discretionary dependencies (soft logic)
- External dependencies
- Internal dependencies
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Leads and Lags – Adjustments to dependencies to represent overlaps (leads) or delays (lags) between tasks.
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Project Management Information System (PMIS) – Software tools used to visualize and sequence activities.
Outputs
- Project Schedule Network Diagram – A graphical representation of activities and their dependencies.
- Project Document Updates – Updates to the activity list, attributes, and assumptions based on sequencing decisions.
Role in the Process Group and Knowledge Area
- In the Planning Process Group, Sequence Activities creates the logical structure required before durations can be estimated or a full schedule developed.
- Within Project Schedule Management, it links the defined work into a flow that reflects time, order, and constraints.
Why It Matters
- Enables Accurate Scheduling – Dependencies must be established to calculate timelines.
- Supports Critical Path Analysis – Identifies the sequence that will determine the project’s duration.
- Improves Resource Coordination – Ensures tasks are logically ordered to avoid conflicts or bottlenecks.
- Clarifies Execution Strategy – Makes clear what must happen when, and what depends on what.