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Strategy

Dependencies

Plain English

Things you rely on before you can continue.

Definition

are tasks, , or teams that must be completed or available before other work can proceed.

In practice

Used to identify blockers and plan sequencing of work.

In context

They are the main reason plans slip, and the main thing plans fail to record. Every cross-team is a date you do not control.

The reality

Often underestimated, leading to delays and bottlenecks.

Compared with

Dependencies vs Constraints

A is something that must happen before you can proceed and may resolve. A constraint is a fixed limit you have to design within. Dependencies are scheduled around; are designed around.

FAQ

Common questions

A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this term.

What are dependencies?

Things that must happen before other work can proceed.

Why are they important?

They affect timelines and .

What is a risk of dependencies?

Delays and bottlenecks.

How do you manage them?

By identifying and planning for them early.

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