Build a dependency-based schedule
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The idea in everyday life
Sequence work using dependencies, capacity, milestones, and uncertainty rather than arbitrary due dates.
A schedule is a model of cause and effect: if this moves, what else must move?
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
Order work by prerequisite and identify external approvals, lead times, handoffs, and shared-resource conflicts.
- 2
Estimate duration separately from effort and include realistic review and rework time.
- 3
Set milestones at meaningful decisions or accepted outputs, then identify the chain that controls the finish date.
- 4
Save the agreed starting schedule as your baseline. Share the assumptions behind it, then update expected dates using actual progress.
See how it works.
The workshop team books captioning before final slides exist but schedules the accessible-file handoff with a firm buffer before the event.
Did you cover these?
- Your work includes a dated project schedule with dependencies, owners, milestones, review buffers, and baseline assumptions.
- Check this common mistake: Assigning the same deadline to every task or assuming ten hours of effort always fits into one workday.
- You can explain which dependency controls the final date and what happens if it slips.
What to finish
A dated project schedule with dependencies, owners, milestones, review buffers, and baseline assumptions.
Watch for this
Assigning the same deadline to every task or assuming ten hours of effort always fits into one workday.
How can I tell I understand it?
You can explain which dependency controls the final date and what happens if it slips.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
Fundamentals of Project Management
From Project Management Institute. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Watch for an idea you can use in the practice below. You can pause or skip this optional overview.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
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Sources and further reading
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Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-10
Read scope, deliverables, requirements, and traceability passages.
Access: Free public chapter; no purchase required.
Reuse: Linked for further study. Book-level CC BY 4.0 has component exceptions; this course uses original practice.
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