Planning

WBS + Gantt: The Perfect Duo for Project Planning

May 22, 2026 · 17 min read · 📅

WBS defines what to do. Gantt shows when to do it. Together they form the foundation of any serious project plan.

The 4 Dependency Types

Finish-to-Start

B can't start until A finishes. Most common.

Start-to-Start

B can't start until A starts. Used in parallel work.

Finish-to-Finish

B can't finish until A finishes.

Start-to-Finish

Rare. B can't finish until A starts.

Type	Definition	Critical?
Total float	Delay without delaying project end	Yes, if = 0
Free float	Delay without delaying successor	No

Can I have a Gantt without a WBS?

Technically yes, but you lose cost traceability and EVM capability. Always build the WBS first.

How many WBS levels should a construction project have?

Typically 4-5 levels. Megaprojects may use 6-7. More than that creates administrative overhead without extra control.

What is the critical path?

The longest sequence of dependent tasks that determines the minimum project duration. Any delay on the critical path delays the project end date.

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