Planning & Scheduling
Precedence Diagram
MyPMP
QMS Template
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πΊοΈ Planning & Scheduling
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About the Precedence Diagram template
A Precedence Diagram is an activity-on-node (AON) network that maps project tasks as boxes and their logical relationships as arrows, showing which work must finish before other work can start. It underpins critical path analysis by capturing dependencies (finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, start-to-finish) plus any lead or lag time. Getting the logic right here drives realistic schedules, accurate float calculations, and defensible deadlines.
It's part of My QMS, MyPMP's Quality Management System: fill it in online, personalize it with your name and logo, then export a clean, branded PDF. Your work auto-saves in your browser.
When to use a Precedence Diagram
- βΈSequencing activities before building a schedule baseline in your PM tool
- βΈRunning a forward and backward pass to find the critical path and total float
- βΈFacilitating a planning workshop where the team maps dependencies together
- βΈAnalysing the schedule impact of a delay, fast-tracking, or added lead/lag
What a good Precedence Diagram includes
- βActivity nodes with a unique ID and clear task name
- βDependency arrows showing the relationship type (FS, SS, FF, SF)
- βLead and lag values on the relevant links
- βDuration for each activity, plus early/late start and finish fields
- βCalculated total float and free float per node
- βA highlighted critical path through the network
What's inside this template
The interactive form above gives you:
Purpose / summaryScope / detailsApproach / bodyDeliverables / outcomesNotes & sign-off
Tips & common mistakes
- π‘Avoid dangling activities: every node except the start and end should have both a predecessor and a successor.
- π‘Default to finish-to-start relationships and only use SS, FF, or SF when the work genuinely justifies it.
- π‘Recalculate the forward and backward pass after any change; float and the critical path shift quickly with new logic or lag.
How it works
- 1. Fill it in β type directly into the fields, tables and sections above.
- 2. Brand it β add your organization name and logo with the Branding button.
- 3. Export β print to PDF, or become a member to white-label and sync across devices.
FAQ
What is a Precedence Diagram?οΌ
It is an activity-on-node network diagramming method (PDM) that represents each task as a box and each dependency as an arrow, used to sequence work and calculate the critical path.
What is the difference between a precedence diagram and an arrow diagram?οΌ
A precedence diagram places activities on the nodes (AON) and uses arrows only for relationships, while an arrow diagram (ADM/AOA) puts activities on the arrows and can require dummy activities to show logic.
What are the four dependency types in a precedence diagram?οΌ
Finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, and start-to-finish; finish-to-start is by far the most common and the safest default.
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