In this chapter we discuss the basic element of a schedule—the activity. An activity is a unit of work that must be done in order to complete part of a project. Though the specific definition depends on the nature of your work and your specific project, an activity generally lasts from a few hours to a few days. An activity can involve a crew of people, or could be a passive activity such as waiting for the concrete to set.
In P6, activities have many properties that can be combined so the activity will schedule, progress, and report in a way that proves that the project and schedule will meet the scope and requirements. This combination of settings represents a chain of features giving users a lot of flexibility. This is often is the main training and learning curve for new users, since the sheer number of activity options can be overwhelming. However, the reality is that there are certain settings which are more frequently used than others, and which meet the majority of your needs.
In this chapter we will cover:
By the end of this chapter we hope that the reader will feel comfortable with the settings and options available for activities.
An activity is the basic unit of a schedule. It is defined as a specific thing which must be accomplished in order to complete a project deliverable. Within a project, activities are organized within WBS elements, as shown in the screenshot. An activity has a number of fundamental properties: