Dependency Mapping
Dependency mapping is the process of identifying and visualizing the relationships between tasks, resources, or teams where one element must complete before another can begin (or where elements must happen in parallel, or where one element blocks another). Dependencies determine the critical path and are the primary source of schedule risk.
Key Points
Four dependency types: Finish-to-Start (most common), Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish, Start-to-Finish (rare)
Cross-team dependencies are the most dangerous — they require coordination between groups with different priorities
Hidden dependencies cause most project delays — the work was always connected, but nobody documented it
Dependency maps should be updated weekly — new dependencies emerge as work progresses
How Vizually.AI Uses This
Vizually.AI uses three connector types for dependency mapping: depends-on (A must finish before B starts), blocks (A prevents B from progressing), and relates-to (informational link). The AI Dependency Detection feature analyzes card titles and descriptions to suggest connections the team may have missed. Critical Path Analysis then calculates which dependency chain determines the project end date.