What are Predecessors in Project Management?

What are Predecessors in Project Management?
Predecessors and successors in project management describe activities that depend upon one another to proceed. These dependencies among activities will determine the order in which the project plan proceeds. Predecessors in project management are activities that must begin or end before a successor task can proceed.
Dependencies in project management can occur in four different ways and can have varying relationships depending on the task or project phase:
- Finish to Start: Task B cannot begin until task A has been completed
- Start to Start: Task B cannot begin until task A begins
- Finish to Finish: Task B cannot be completed until task A is completed
- Start to Finish: Task B cannot be completed until task A begins
Finish to Start task dependencies, for example, describe a sequence of activities where one task must be completed before another begins. Another type of dependency is a Finish to Finish task dependency, where one task must be completed before another can also be completed.
Example of predecessors in project management
The most common project plan predecessors are those that require the predecessor in a project to finish before the successor can start. A simple example is when building a home, the foundation must be finished before the framing of the house can begin.
Visualizing predecessor types
One of the best ways to visualize a predecessor in a project plan is to use a Gantt chart. With Wrike, you can set up task dependencies, wherein the completion of one task triggers the start of another. This offers automation in predecessor and successor project management that will help your team move forward faster.

Change management in project management is the structured use of tools, processes, and leadership to manage how changes affect projects, teams, and stakeholders. It combines overseeing project work with supporting people through transitions, ensuring changes are understood, accepted, and adopted while minimizing disruption and helping projects achieve their intended goals successfully.
A cost-benefit analysis in project management compares a project’s expected benefits to its total costs to determine whether it’s worth pursuing. It gives teams a clear, data-backed view of a project’s financial viability by quantifying costs, forecasting benefits, and calculating metrics like ROI and NPV. This helps decision makers prioritize initiatives and allocate resources with confidence.
Cost control in project management is the process of monitoring and managing project expenses to make sure the work stays within budget. It includes tracking spending, planning for financial risks, and preparing for potential setbacks that could drive unexpected costs. Effective cost control helps teams avoid overruns, stay on schedule, and use resources more efficiently.
Cost management in project management requires estimating, budgeting, and controlling project expenses so that the work can stay financially on track. Teams can predict future costs, monitor spending throughout the project lifecycle, and compare planned versus actual costs to improve future budgeting. Effective cost management helps prevent overruns, reduce risk, and support better resource planning and long-term profitability.
Cost variance is a measure of a project’s financial performance that compares the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) with the actual cost of work performed (ACWP). It shows whether a project is over or under budget, helping teams track spending as the project progresses. A variance close to zero is ideal, though difficult to achieve in practice.
