Adding Dependencies to Process Models

Dependencies can be used within a process model to define relationships between deliverables and activities that need to be started or completed in a defined sequence. When one task depends on work from another task, a dependency between those tasks can ensure that the project does not run into roadblocks from necessary work being incomplete.

Project Dependencies:

Dependencies can be managed for all projects at the process model level, or can be applied as needed at the individual project level.

• At the process model level, dependencies can be added or deleted on the model’s Dependencies tab. Dependencies created at this level will automatically appear on every project created forward from this process model, and can be pushed down to current inflight projects as well by clicking the Push Dependencies button at the top right corner of the page. To edit the information on the Dependencies tab, a user must be a Process Designer with edit rights on that process model. These dependencies will also be reflected on projects' Time View.

If a user wants to push dependency changes down to current open projects, it is recommended that this action be completed in off hours in order to minimize the impact to project teams.

• If a dependency is only necessary for a certain project, dependencies can be added or deleted from that project's Time View page by a user with Team Leader rights. See Viewing Project Time View for more information.

Types of Dependencies:

A dependency is represented on the screen by a black arrow pointing from the start or finish of one task to the start or finish of another task.

There are four types of dependencies in Accolade:

• Start to Start: Source task must start before target task can start
• Start to Finish: Source task must start before target task can finish
• Finish to Start: Source task must finish before target task can start
• Finish to Finish: Source task must finish before target task can finish

Creating Dependencies:

When the user hovers the mouse over a task’s bar on the page, a small gray circle representing the task’s start and finish will appear on either side of the bar. To create a dependency, click on the circle representing the source of the dependency and drag the cursor to the target of the dependency. The page will then draw an arrow representing the new dependency.

Deleting Dependencies:

To delete a dependency, double click the unwanted dependency and select “delete” on the dialog that appears.