Types of Relationships:

There are four types of relationships in Primavera P6. These relationships actually came from
Precedence Diagramming Method or PDM. As Primavera P6 used PDM method for scheduling so these
relationship types are also available in Primavera P6. These four types of relationships are:

• Finish to Start or FS

• Start to Start or SS

• Finish to Finish or FF

• Start to Finish or SF

Now lets look at the types of relationships in detail.

Finish to Start or FS:

In finish to start relationship, start of successor activity is controlled by finish of predecessor activity.
For example you can build foundations of a building after you have done excavations. Or you can test
a software after you have developed it. In Finish to Start, relationship arrow originates from finish of
the predecessor and finishes at start of the successor.

FS relationship doesn’t mean that successor activity can only start after predecessor activity has
finished. It only means that start of successor activity is controlled by finish of predecessor activity. In
FS relationship, successor activity can start before the finish of predecessor activity if lead is applied
to successor. For example you can start building foundations when 75% of excavations are completed.
You don’t have to wait for complete excavation to start your foundations. This type of relationship is
mostly used in the schedule. If you are confused about exact relationship between activities then go
for FS relationship.

Start to Start or SS:

In start to start, start of successor activity is controlled by start of predecessor activity. For example
when a project starts then project management activities are also started with it. Or you can start
leveling of concrete when pouring of concrete is started.

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SS relationship doesn’t mean that successor activity can only start when predecessor activity has
started. It only means that start of successor activity is controlled by start of predecessor activity. In
SS relationship, successor activity can start after the start of predecessor activity if lead is applied to
successor. For example, if construction of walls and plaster on these walls are connected with SS
relationship, then to start plaster, some portion of the walls must have to be completed.

Finish to Finish or FF:

In finish to finish, finish of successor activity is controlled by finish of predecessor activity. For example
you may want to finish columns with walls so that roof can be built over them. Or you may want to
finish all testing of a software with writing of a software manual so that final software package can be
handed over to the client. You can also you lag and lead in FF relationship if you want to finish
successor activity before or after finish of the successor activity.

Start to Finish or SF:

In start to finish, finish of successor activity is controlled by start of predecessor activity. Example of
FS relationship can be that you have an activity of floor tiles in your schedule, lets say activity A, and
you create an activity of material approval process for this activity and connect it to activity A by start
to finish. Now you will have start and finish date of this material approval process so that the process
can be initiated on time and you have approved tiles till start of tiling works.

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