Hammock activity

A Hammock activity is a schedule (project management) or project planning term for a grouping of subtasks that "hangs" between two end dates it is tied to. (Or the two end-events it is fixed to.)

A Hammock activity groups subtasks which are not related in the hierarchial sense of a Work Breakdown Structure.

A Hammock activity groups subtasks which are not related in a logical sense of a dependency (project management) where one subtask must wait for another.

Usages:
* Group dissimilar activities that lead to an overall capability, such as preparations under a summary label, e.g. "vacation preparation";
* Group unrelated items for the purpose of a summary such as a calendar-based reporting period, e.g. "First quarter plans";
* Group ongoing or overhead activities that run the length of an effort, e.g. "project management"

The duration of the hammock activity (the size of the hammock) may also be set by the subtasks within it, so that the abstract grouping has a start date of the earliest of any of the subtasks and the finish date is the latest of any of the contents.

References

* [https://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/5590b.aspx Troubleshooting Microsoft Project 2002, Bonnie Biafore (sample chapter)]

External links

* [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;141733&Product=PRJ2K Microsoft Knowledge Base article "How to Build a Hammock Task"]
* [http://www.maxwideman.com/pmglossary/PMG_H00.htm Wideman Comparative Glossary of Project Management Terms]
* [http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/pmo/products/pmglossary/G.htm NCWG Project Management Glossary]