What relationship indicates that a successor activity cannot begin until the predecessor has been completed?

The relationship that indicates a successor activity cannot begin until the predecessor has been completed is known as a Finish-to-Start relationship. In project management, this is a fundamental type of dependency where the completion of one activity (the predecessor) is necessary for the start of another activity (the successor).

In practical terms, this means that before the successor task can be initiated, the predecessor must reach its conclusion. For example, in a construction project, you cannot start painting the walls (successor task) until the drywall installation (predecessor task) has been completed. This relationship helps in effective scheduling and planning, ensuring that all tasks are sequenced correctly to avoid delays or conflicts.

Other relationships mentioned, such as Finish-to-Finish and Start-to-Finish, handle dependencies differently. For example, a Finish-to-Finish relationship states that one task cannot finish until another task finishes but does not restrict starting other activities. Concurrent activities refer to tasks that can happen simultaneously, which is not related to the limitation that exemplifies a Finish-to-Start relationship.