Team leaders take project management methodologies seriously. Some people love Agile, others swear by Kanban. One lesser known methodology is float management. This project management framework is gaining popularity thanks to the flexibility it offers. But what is float management, and would it suit your projects?<\/p>\n
If you’re not familiar with float management, you may find the thought of learning a new project management system intimidating. There’s already a lot of project management terminology\u00a0to know as it is! Read on to learn how float management can help you stick to your project schedule while making life easier for your team and project management.<\/p>\n
Get started<\/a><\/p>\n Float management is a project management style known for its flexibility. It doesn’t replace other frameworks but rather works alongside them. Float management helps you identify “float” or “slack” time within your project’s schedules, helps you work around delays, and streamlines your projects.<\/p>\n This project management system can be particularly useful if you already have an effective way of managing tasks, but have issues with resource management. It helps balance the schedules of your team members, so even if there are supply chain delays or other issues, you’ll still be able to meet critical deadlines.<\/p>\nFloat can be used alongside Agile or Kanban\u00a0and is an effective project management strategy that can boost your productivity.<\/span><\/a>\n \u201cFloat management” is a part of our <\/em>Project Management Glossary<\/a><\/em>\u00a0\u2014 check out the full list of terms and definitions!<\/em><\/p>\n Float management is a scheduling system, more than a true project management system. You can understand the float that is available in your project by drawing a project network diagram that shows how each task is linked together, how the completion time of one task might impact the tasks that follow it, and eventually the completion date of the project.<\/p>\n Float can be divided into a few different types:<\/p>\n By drawing a network diagram and mapping out the earliest and latest completion dates of the project tasks, you can get a clearer picture of your project’s schedule. Then you’ll be in a position to make better decisions about requesting staff, allocating resources, and adjusting the schedule. The information from the network diagram helps you make decisions in real time.<\/p>\n Float, or slack, refers to the amount of time a task can be delayed without impacting the broader project.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Calculating float is done through a combination of forward pass and backward pass project scheduling. Forward pass refers to the idea of working in chronological order through the project diagram and calculating the critical path and free float of a project. Backward pass scheduling works through the project in reverse order, looking for float, or slack.<\/p>\n This can be plotted on the network diagram as follows:<\/p>\nWhat is float management?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How does float management work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Float management in forward pass project management<\/strong><\/h2>\n