Last updated on Oct 9, 2024

What are the best critical thinking frameworks for identifying project dependencies?

Identifying project dependencies is a crucial skill for any project manager, as it helps to avoid delays, conflicts, and risks. Dependencies are the relationships between tasks, resources, or deliverables that affect the start or finish of another. However, not all dependencies are obvious or easy to spot, especially in complex or dynamic projects. That's why you need to apply some critical thinking frameworks to analyze your project scope, schedule, and stakeholders, and identify the dependencies that matter most. In this article, we'll introduce you to three of the best critical thinking frameworks for identifying project dependencies: the 5 Whys, the Fishbone Diagram, and the Dependency Matrix.

1 The 5 Whys

The 5 Whys is an effective technique for discovering the root cause of a problem or a dependency. It involves asking "why" multiple times until you reach the underlying reason behind a situation. For instance, if there is a dependency between Task A and Task B, you can ask questions such as: why does Task A depend on Task B?; why does Task B need to be done before Task A?; why does Task B have a certain deadline or requirement?; why does that deadline or requirement exist?; and why is that deadline or requirement important for the project? Through these questions, you can uncover the hidden assumptions, constraints, or risks that create the dependency and determine if it is necessary, valid, or avoidable.

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Blessing Omatseye (Safety Queen 👑)

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To understand project dependency it's important to understand the process and nitty gritty of the individual tasks and how they are connected. For instance if I have a research project to work on it's important to first carry out a review of relevant literatures before administering my questionnaire to the target audience. The quality of your questionnaire depends on the quality of your literature review. Hence it's important to understand the problem through a thorough review of relevant literatures. One thing that has worked for me over the years is understanding the project and how they are related thereby asking relevant questions that help make the necessary decisions.

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Sahej Chawla

Zomato| ISB| AAP| Internshala| BZ Consultant| B.Com(H) SGGSCC'25| Special Recognition Award Recipient| Environment Club| Women Development Cell| Seminar Committee| 180 DC| Aushadhi| Galiyara| GirlUp UN| HPAIR’24
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The "5 Whys" method involves asking "why" repeatedly to uncover the underlying cause or dependency in a problem or situation. It peels away layers to reveal the root issue. For instance, when making a grilled cheese sandwich, asking why you butter the bread before adding cheese leads to: 1. Preventing bread from burning. 2. Burning ruins taste/texture. 3. Taste/texture balance matters. 4. Perfect balance = great sandwich. 5. Great eating experience is the goal. Similarly, in projects, the "5 Whys" unveil why tasks rely on each other, showing their significance for project success.

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2 The Fishbone Diagram

The Fishbone Diagram, also known as the Ishikawa Diagram or the Cause and Effect Diagram, is a visual tool for uncovering the potential causes of a problem or a dependency. It resembles a fish skeleton, with the head symbolizing the problem or dependency and the bones representing categories of causes. These categories can vary depending on the nature of the issue or dependency, but some common ones are people, process, equipment, materials, environment, and management. For each category, you can brainstorm potential causes that contribute to the problem or dependency and draw them as smaller bones. For instance, if you have a dependency between Task A and Task B, you can draw a fishbone diagram like this: Problem/Dependency: Task A depends on Task B - People: Task B requires a specific skill or resource that only one person has - Process: Task B follows a complex or rigid procedure that takes a long time or has many steps - Equipment: Task B needs a special tool or software that is not easily available or compatible - Materials: Task B uses a scarce or expensive material that is hard to obtain or replace - Environment: Task B is affected by external factors such as weather, regulations, or market conditions - Management: Task B has a high priority or a strict deadline that is imposed by the client or the sponsor. By utilizing the fishbone diagram, you can recognize multiple causes that create the dependency and prioritize or address them accordingly.

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Sahej Chawla

Zomato| ISB| AAP| Internshala| BZ Consultant| B.Com(H) SGGSCC'25| Special Recognition Award Recipient| Environment Club| Women Development Cell| Seminar Committee| 180 DC| Aushadhi| Galiyara| GirlUp UN| HPAIR’24
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Think of the Fishbone Diagram as a visual map, like a detective's board, solving mysteries of why things are connected or why a problem exists. It looks like a fish skeleton: the head is the issue, and bones represent different cause categories. For instance, if Task A relies on Task B: People—specific skills needed; Process—complex steps; Equipment—scarce tools; Materials—expensive resources; Environment—external factors; Management—strict deadlines. Each 'bone' reveals a cause contributing to the dependency, helping prioritize fixes. It's like organizing clues on a board, making it easier to untangle project issues, one bone at a time!

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3 The Dependency Matrix

The Dependency Matrix is a matrix-based tool for identifying the dependencies between tasks, resources, or deliverables in a project. It consists of a table with rows and columns representing the elements of the project, and cells indicating the type and direction of the dependency. There are four main types of dependencies: finish-to-start (FS), start-to-start (SS), finish-to-finish (FF), and start-to-finish (SF). For example, if you have a project with four tasks: A, B, C, and D, you can create a dependency matrix like this:

| | A | B | C | D |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| A | | | | |

| B | FS | | | |

| C | SS | FS | | |

| D | | | FF | |

This means that Task B depends on Task A to finish before it can start (FS), Task C depends on Task A to start at the same time (SS) and on Task B to finish before it can start (FS), and Task D depends on Task C to finish at the same time (FF). By using the dependency matrix, you can visualize the dependencies between the elements of the project, and plan or adjust your project schedule accordingly.

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best critical thinking frameworks for identifying project dependencies?

1

2

3

4

1 The 5 Whys

2 The Fishbone Diagram

3 The Dependency Matrix

4 Here’s what else to consider

Critical Thinking

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What are the best critical thinking frameworks for identifying project dependencies?

1

2

3

4

1 The 5 Whys

2 The Fishbone Diagram

3 The Dependency Matrix

4 Here’s what else to consider

Critical Thinking

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