External dependencies in Your Project Schedule

External dependencies
Does your project schedule contain dependencies? Often people build schedules with internal task level dependencies, but does your schedule identify tasks that are external to the work your team is performing? For example, if you are working with an external vendor, does your schedule contain milestones identifying deliverables that you are expecting and when you expect them?

It is very easy to filter a project schedule for external dependencies, particularly if you use a naming convention such as prefixing dependencies and milestone. For example, XYZ Company Milestone - Test Environment Available 6/5/06 You may also insert a column in your schedule to flag rows that are external dependency tasks.

Once the external dependency tasks are identified, meet with the external resources and walk them through your plan to verify that the dates match their expectations. You may need to negotiate and adjust your schedule, however you will be more likely to succeed and deliver your project on time if the external dependencies are clear and communicated.