3/25/2023 0 Comments The float inThe great part about float is that it can be implemented in just about every PM framework, including Agile, Kanban, critical path, PERT, waterfall, and more. No matter your preferred project management framework or style, understanding total and free float can help you and your teams improve resource management, internal and external scheduling, and project delivery. How to use float for better project management The float for laying the foundations is, therefore, two weeks. This means that laying foundations can start two weeks after your project's start date without affecting the scheduled installation of plumbing and electricity. However, in your project schedule, you have allocated eight weeks for foundations to be laid. The plumbing and electricity cannot be installed until the foundations have been properly laid, which will take six weeks. In order to build the extension, the following tasks need to be completed: Imagine you are building an extension on the ground floor of your home, and you set a deadline of six months. Let's look at a simple example of how float can arise in a project. An example of float in project management That formula looks like this: ES - EF = free float. Both of these formulas will give you the task’s total float.įree float, on the other hand, is calculated by subtracting the task’s earliest finish date from its earliest start date. Alternately, you can subtract the task’s earliest start (ES) date from its latest start (LS) date, like this: LS - ES = total float. It looks like this: LF - EF = total float. To calculate total float, subtract the task’s earliest finish (EF) date from its latest finish (LF) date. These can actually be calculated with a simple formula. With your critical and non-critical task paths identified and planned, it’s time to calculate your float. However, in complex projects that contain more than one task path, float will come into play in your non-critical paths. By definition, then, there will be no float in the project’s critical path. Of course, the tasks that make up your critical path are dependent on one another. How to calculate float in project managementīefore you can calculate total or free float, you must first identify and map your project’s critical and non-critical tasks. Instead of feeling pressured by tight, non-negotiable deadlines, project float gives them the breathing room needed to allocate resources in the most efficient manner possible. Similarly, internal resource managers benefit from the flexibility project slack provides. This means they can optimize their schedule by choosing the best crew for the job, working as materials arrive, working in the best weather conditions, and avoiding overtime. But float is also extremely valuable for PMs working with contractors and internal resource managers.įor example, by knowing precisely how much free float and total float a particular task has, you give your contractors more leeway to work with. Of course, project float helps tremendously with resource management, scheduling, and keeping projects on track for a timely delivery. Usually not a huge concern to project deliveryĪs you can imagine, project float - sometimes called project “slack” - is highly beneficial for project managers, particularly those who oversee large, complicated projects with multiple task paths.Referred to less often than total float.The amount of time a task can be delayed without impacting other tasks in the path.Can compromise a project's final delivery date and is of more concern than free float.Usually what PMs are referring to when they talk about "project float".The total amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting the final project delivery date.Let's look at some of the distinctions between the two. In fact, there are two distinct types of float that project managers use to manage task timelines: total float and free float. But, there’s a little more to it than that. Put simply, project management float is the amount of time a given task can be delayed without causing a delay in the entire project. But what is float in project management? And how can PMs use float alongside various project management frameworks? What is project management float? Instead of letting a delayed task derail the entire project and disrupt delivery, those PMs use float to manage delays and steer the project to on-time completion. Project managers who’ve been around the block know that even the best-laid plans can go awry.
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