{"id":1576,"date":"2021-11-09T12:52:17","date_gmt":"2021-11-09T12:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/?p=1576"},"modified":"2021-11-09T12:56:05","modified_gmt":"2021-11-09T12:56:05","slug":"zero-float-in-project-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/zero-float-in-project-management\/","title":{"rendered":"A Run-Down On Zero Float In Project Management, Plus Tips On How To Manage It"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all managed a project at one point or another. Whether it\u2019s planning a party or leading a large project at work, it\u2019s important to understand the tasks that lead to the desired outcomes. One of the first steps many Project Managers will do is create the project\u2019s timeline in a series of tasks. When mapping out the project, each task gets a duration for competition. It will become clear which activities depend on others and which ones have more flexibility. When there is no extra time between activities, we have zero float, and it is considered a critical activity. A series of critical activities that are dependent on one another make up a critical path.<\/p>\n

If a critical activity slips and doesn\u2019t meet its deadline, it causes the project finish date to slip. And this is usually a no-go in project management. Mainly because deadline slips, even the small ones, typically have massive financial costs. For the average size project, even a 10 percent overrun can result in a $5 million hit to the project\u2019s profitability<\/a>. Using the critical path method allows Project Managers to decide which tasks should take precedence, anticipate potential slips in the schedule, and make necessary adjustments. This makes project delays less likely and, therefore, project success more likely.<\/p>\n

Got some zero float activities in your project? Here are 4 tips to help you manage them:<\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Start with a thoroughly defined project scope<\/span><\/h2>\n

Without a well-defined scope that addresses all the project details, it\u2019s pretty hard to achieve a killer result. All of the deliverables, no matter how small, need to be agreed upon by the project\u2019s parties. This will provide the guideline for which activities need to be included in the project. Without a complete scope, it\u2019s pretty hard to come up with an accurate project timeline. What ends up happening is deliverables get added on and your zero float tasks have to slip. Wreaking havoc on your budget, time constraints, and project quality.<\/p>\n

<\/span>2. Prepare for all possibilities<\/span><\/h2>\n

When looking at your critical path, start thinking about the \u201cwhat if\u201d scenarios<\/a> that could pop up. By thinking about these potential situations in advance, you\u2019re more prepared for anything that can happen. And if you look at the history of projects, especially those major high-risk ones, things happen, and contingency plans go a long way.<\/p>\n

You may want to look beyond your critical path at the tasks that have extra slack to prepare for these \u201cwhat if\u201d situations. You can use extra slack to extend a task, giving yourself more resources to allocate to the at-risk zero float tasks.<\/p>\n

You can also think about the zero float tasks that are most likely at risk of delays or other issues. See how the rest of the critical path is affected and how you can shorten particular task durations. Here are a few things you can do to fast track your tasks with zero float:<\/p>\n