F

Fast Tracking

Compressing the project schedule by overlapping activities that would normally be done in sequence, such as design and construction. Sometimes confused with concurrent engineering.

A point in time associated with an activity's completion. Usually qualified by one of the following: actual, planned, estimated, scheduled, early, late, baseline, target or current.

(FF) See logical relationship.

(FS) See logical relationship.

(FFP) A type of contract where the buyer pays the seller a set amount (as defined by the contract) regardless of the seller's costs.

See firm fixed price contract.

(FPIF) A type of contract where the buyer pays the seller a set amount (as defined by the contract), and the seller can earn an additional amount if it meets defined performance criteria.

The amount of time that an activity may be delayed from its early start without delaying the project finish date. Float is a mathematical calculation and can change as the project progresses and changes are made to the project plan. Also called slack, total float, and path float. See also free float.

See estimate at completion.

The calculation of the early start and early finish dates for the uncompleted portions of all network activities. See also network analysis and backward pass.

See subnet.

(FF) The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of any immediately following activities. See also float.

A manager responsible for activities in a specialized department or function (e.g., engineering, manufacturing, marketing).

An organization structure in which staff are grouped hierarchically by specialty (e.g., production, marketing, engineering, and accounting at the top level; with engineering, further divided into mechanical, electrical, and others).

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