About Tasks

In the 10-2 Tasks window, you can create a master list of tasks. When creating a task list, it is important to tailor the tasks to the type of work your company performs and the level of detail necessary to effectively schedule projects.

In general, create tasks for every event that requires at least one day of work. To help create the task list, review the previous schedules of typical projects completed by your company. As you enter tasks, arrange the tasks in the order they are performed. For example, the tasks Rough Plumbing and Rough Electrical come before the task Pour Concrete Slab.

As you enter tasks, assign each task a task number. The sequence of task numbers should reflect the order in which tasks are performed. To allow for expansion of the task list, provide breaks in the sequence of task numbers as you create the list.

Task lists can vary in length and complexity. A general contractor, for example, might require more than 100 tasks whereas a subcontractor might require only 15 tasks. When creating the task list, consider the following:

Create tasks based on the type of work, not the person performing the work. You can assign resources to specific tasks after the client has approved the schedule.

Separate tasks. Some work is performed in stages and should be scheduled as different tasks. With separate tasks, you can also gain better control over resource allocation.

For example, a drywall subcontractor creates the tasks Stock Drywall, Hang Drywall, and Tape and Texture Drywall. Separate tasks allow the subcontractor to schedule resources needed for each task.

Combine tasks. Sometimes you can group a series of related tasks into a single task. Before combining tasks, consider what impact this will have on scheduling dependent tasks and resource allocation.

Suppose a general contractor is creating a task list for residential home construction. Because the drywall is always contracted out, the contractor creates two tasks: Stock Drywall and Hang/Tape/Texture Drywall. While the subcontractor has to schedule a variety of resources for the individual tasks, the contractor is only concerned with scheduling the subcontractor as a resource. Therefore, the general contractor can use a single task to schedule the hanging, taping, and texturing for drywall.

Create separate tasks for milestones, inspections, billings, or other important events.