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Mastering Project Dependencies

 

A Guide to Successful Project Delivery

 

From the Podcast: A summary of a recent Interview

on The Project Management Podcast

SERIES ARTICLE

By Cornelius Fichtner

Arizona, USA


Dependency management is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of ensuring project success. Properly identifying, planning, and managing dependencies can mean the difference between a smoothly executed project and one that encounters unexpected delays or risks. In this article, we explore insights shared by Bryan Barrow, author of Dependency Management: 75 Quick and Easy Tips to Eliminate Barriers to Your Project’s Success, in his recent appearance on The PM Podcast. With decades of experience consulting on complex projects, Bryan offers actionable advice and a comprehensive six-step framework for mastering project dependencies.

The Importance of Dependency Management

Bryan emphasizes that dependency management goes beyond tasks and timelines—it’s about relationships. He defines a dependency as a relationship where one task or entity relies on another to proceed. Managing these relationships effectively requires a proactive and structured approach.

According to Bryan, many project managers make the mistake of treating dependencies as purely task-oriented. For example, focusing only on “start-to-finish” relationships. Instead, he encourages project managers to consider the people, resources, and organizational structures involved. By building strong communication and collaboration among stakeholders, project managers can avoid pitfalls and ensure smoother project execution.

Common Dependency Management Mistakes

Bryan identifies three common mistakes in dependency management:

1.  Failing to Identify All Dependencies: Missing dependencies leads to an incomplete picture of the project, which can result in unmanaged risks, scope changes, or unexpected delays.

2.  Inadequate Communication with Stakeholders: Without regular and clear communication, stakeholders may not fully understand project dependencies, potentially leading to misalignment or missed commitments.

3.  Lack of Accountability: Dependencies often fail when stakeholders are not held accountable for their roles. This can create a domino effect of delays, affecting the entire project.

The Six-Step Framework

Bryan introduces a practical six-step framework for dependency management:

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Editor’s note: The author Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, CSM is an author, speaker, course creator, and since 2005 host of the world-famous Project Management Podcast. In this new series, Cornelius provides a summary of a recent podcast on a topic that we think will be of interest to our readers. This article is based on The PM Podcast Episode 515, an interview with Bryan Barrow. For more, see his author profile at the end of this article.

How to cite this work: Fichtner, C. (2025). Mastering Project Dependencies: A Guide to Successful Project Delivery, PM Podcast 151 summary, series article, PM World Journal, Volume XIV, Issue II, February. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pmwj149-Feb2025-Fichtner-measuring-project-dependencies-podcast-151.pdf


About the Author


Cornelius Fichtner

Arizona, USA

 

Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, CSM is an author, speaker, course creator, and host of the world-famous Project Management Podcast. He is also well known for creating one of the first and most renowned PMP Exam Simulators, offering PMP practice exams that have helped countless students effortlessly pass their PMP Exam.

He says that the main way he helps candidates pass their exams is by letting his enthusiasm for project management shine through during training. Students and podcast listeners often comment on how he can make an academic subject like PM theory come alive to motivate, excite, and inspire them with this ‘dry’ subject.

He is a past president of the PMIOC Chapter and a PMI-OC Fellow. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, USA, with his wife, cats, and their four computers. Cornelius can be contacted at cornelius.fichtner@osp-international.com

You can find The Project Management Podcast™ at https://www.project-management-podcast.com, and The Project Management PrepCast™  at https://www.project-management-prepcast.com. If you are preparing for your PMP exam, then take a look here: https://www.pm-exam-simulator.com.