Overview |
Deliverables in MS Project |
Deliverables in Project Workspace |
External Dependencies |
Create and manage inter-project dependency & deliverables
By defining inter-project deliverable dependencies, you can set up your project or specific tasks in your project, to be dependent on another project's deliverables, rather than its tasks.
Your project and task start and finish dates are not affected by changes to the dates in the project you are dependent upon.
MS Project Server 2007 provides the new functionality called Inter-project deliverable dependencies. This is different from traditional linking tasks across projects concept.
When should I use inter-project dependencies, instead of linking tasks across projects?
If your project is dependent on some aspect of another project, and the dependency is not necessarily tied to a specific task, use inter-project dependencies to identify exactly what each project brings to the relationship.
If your project has a specific task that depends on a specific task in another project, use linking tasks across projects (cross-project links) to tie the task dates to one another. This way, if the task you are dependent upon slips, the new dates are reflected in your own task.
To create a dependency on a deliverable, the PM does not have to publish the project or create a workspace.
Note: Defining External Deliverables (inter project dependences) can be possible only from MS Project Professional 2007. It’s not possible to define the deliverables on other projects by using Project Workspace.
Example: On Software Design Roadmap project, I have a task called “Initiate Phase Completed". This task is dependent on the deliverable in IT Systems Upgrade Program project.
Steps:
- Open Project Plan
- Click on Collaborate menu -> Manage Dependencies on Deliverables
- MS Project displays the message "No dependencies have been defined"" on your first attempt of dependency creation
- Click on "Add new dependency"
- MS Project displays the dropdown to select project
- Choose the project on which the current project is dependent; MS Project displays the list of deliverables associated with this project
- Select the task in your project and then click the "Link to selected task" in the Add Dependency section
- Select the external deliverable from the "Select Deliverable" list -> Click "Done" link
- Save project
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