What is Float? And, What is Slack? in Project Management

In this video, I will answer the question, what is float? Or, if you prefer, what is Slack? (not the software) Float as schedule flexibility It is the amount of time a project activity can slip before it has an adverse effect on another scheduled activity Float = slack Some people reserve float to mean how long you can over-run a task without implications. They use slack to refer to how long you can delay the start of a task without implications. Free float The amount of time that a scheduled activity can be delayed without affecting the start of successor activities - aka task float or activity float FF = ES(b) - EF(a) Total float The amount of time that a scheduled activity can be delayed without affecting the end of the project - aka project float. TF = LF - EF or LS - ES Project float can also refer to the amount of time a project can be delayed without affecting the end-user or client Negative float If your project will be delayed, this is the time between when you can finish a task and when you need it finished to assure completion on schedule. Critical Path Longest path through a network. Will have the least float - possibly zero All activities on the critical path should have zero float - UNLESS you schedule in float as a deliberate risk mitigation measure Recommended Videos Carefully curated video recommendations for you: 🎬 Project Planning: Plan Your Project - PM Fundamentals    • Project Planning: Plan Your Project - PM F...   🎬 Project Planning Process - How to Build Effective Project Plans    • Project Planning 101 - How to Build Effect...   🎬 The Key Deliverable of Your Project Plan [Not what you expect]    • The Key Deliverable of Your Project Plan [...   🎬 What are Task Dependencies in Project Management?    • What are Task Dependencies in Project Mana...   🎬 What is the Critical Path Method (CPM)?    • What is the Critical Path Method (CPM)?   🎒 A while back, I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. https://kit.co/MikeClayton/what-a-pro... Note that the links are affiliated. 🎬 For more great Project Management videos, please subscribe to this channel:    / @onlinepmcourses   🎁 For all our great Project Management articles and resources, please check out the OnlinePMCourses website: https://onlinepmcourses.com/ 🏛 For basic Management Courses - free training hosted on YouTube, with 2 new management lessons a week, check out our sister channel, Management Courses:    / managementcourses   🎓 For more of our Project Management videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management: https://onlinepmcourses.com/free-acad... ⏱ Chapter Markers... 00:00 - What is Float? …or Slack? 00:15 - Definition of Float 00:39 - Float 00:52 - Slack 01:04 - Float vs Slack? 01:18 - Free Float 01:51 - Total Float 02:23 - Project Float 02:45 - Negative Float 03:03 - Float and the Critical Path Method (CPM) 03:38 - Why do we care about Float? 05:36 - Summing-up Float (or Slack) #Project #ProjectManagement #Float