Explain the difference between Finish-to-Start (FS) and Start-to-Finish (SF) dependencies.

Explain the difference between Finish-to-Start (FS) and Start-to-Finish (SF) dependencies.

• A. FS means a predecessor must finish before the successor can start; SF means a predecessor must finish before the successor can finish.
• B. FS and SF are identical.
• C. FS means successor must finish before predecessor starts; SF means it has no effect.
• D. FS means predecessor must start after successor finishes; SF means there's no link.

Answer: (A)

Dependencies control when tasks can begin or end relative to each other. Finish-to-Start means the successor can’t begin until the predecessor finishes. Start-to-Finish means the successor can’t finish until the predecessor starts. So FS governs when the next task can start, based on the previous task’s completion, while SF governs when the next task can finish, based on the previous task’s start. For example, if you must complete a setup before production can begin, that’s a Finish-to-Start relationship. If you require the production to still be in progress until the setup has started, that’s a Start-to-Finish relationship. The idea that FS and SF are identical, or that SF has no effect, isn’t correct, and FS is not about the predecessor starting after the successor finishes.

Dependencies control when tasks can begin or end relative to each other. Finish-to-Start means the successor can’t begin until the predecessor finishes. Start-to-Finish means the successor can’t finish until the predecessor starts. So FS governs when the next task can start, based on the previous task’s completion, while SF governs when the next task can finish, based on the previous task’s start. For example, if you must complete a setup before production can begin, that’s a Finish-to-Start relationship. If you require the production to still be in progress until the setup has started, that’s a Start-to-Finish relationship. The idea that FS and SF are identical, or that SF has no effect, isn’t correct, and FS is not about the predecessor starting after the successor finishes.