--- sourceDocument: Brazil Strategic Portfolio Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/it-business-management Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Brazil Strategic Portfolio Management ft:clusterId : - itbm bundleId : - itbm workflow : - Technology --- # Project scheduling in Project Management # Project scheduling in Project Management {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read Define how tasks are sequenced, timed, and connected to determine when a project starts and finishes with Project scheduling. ## Project scheduling overview {#project-scheduling__section_sxl_l1j_43c} Learn the relationship between the project start date, task scheduling modes, and task links helps you build accurate, flexible project plans in Project Management. ## Project start date and finish date {#project-scheduling__section_vfb_kjj_43c} When you create a project, the start date determines the schedule. By default, all tasks begin on the project start date. As you add tasks and connect them to one another, individual task start times adjust, and the last task to finish determines the project finish date. For both manually scheduled and automatically scheduled tasks with no dependencies or constraints, the project duration equals the duration of the longest task. ## Comparing Scheduling Approaches: Start Date and Finish Date {#project-scheduling__section_r4d_mkj_43c} Most projects are scheduled from a known start date, which provides maximum scheduling flexibility. You can schedule from a finish date in the following situations: * You should determine when the project must start to meet a required completion date. * The project start date is uncertain, such as when work depends on an external source. * Your project management method requires finish-date scheduling. {#project-scheduling__ul_kzt_3lj_43c} When you schedule from a finish date, Project applies the As Late As Possible (ALAP) constraint to automatically scheduled tasks. * Dragging a Gantt bar to change a task's finish date automatically applies a Finish No Later Than (FNLT) constraint. * Switching from start-date to finish-date scheduling removes leveling delays and splits from automatically scheduled tasks. Manually scheduled tasks are not affected. * Automatic leveling adds delays after tasks rather than before them. {#project-scheduling__ul_rjv_rlj_43c} ## Task scheduling modes {#project-scheduling__section_zkb_5lj_43c} Project supports two task scheduling modes: * Automatically scheduled tasks: Project calculates start and finish dates based on dependencies, constraints, and the project calendar. * Manually scheduled tasks: You control the start and finish dates. Manually scheduled tasks do not move automatically when linked tasks change. {#project-scheduling__ul_pwj_vlj_43c} ## Critical path {#project-scheduling__section_tv3_xlj_43c} When tasks are linked, Project sets a critical path, the longest sequence of dependent tasks that determines the project's completion date. Delays on this path can directly delay the project finish. **Related concepts** * [Parent-child rollup task calculations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3weNeEJ9QkIwqpx_jqeMYA "Date changes, stage changes, and value calculations roll up from child tasks to parent tasks.") * [Schedule conflicts between project tasks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/85j3BM6hVLKdg86SnpVEgw "Scheduling conflict helps you to identify project tasks that are not honoring dependencies. A scheduling conflict occurs when one project task prevents other task from starting on the specified date because of dependencies or constraint types.") * [Change requests and project tasks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ZkhGfgeKB~FkHMFHLKnxrw "Large-scale changes approved by your change approval board (CAB) require new or existing projects to be implemented.") * [Project task checklists](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BVzuAuGfEEpelmaCF1rrMQ "A project task checklist gives you the ability to track activities that must be completed on a task.") * [Task resources](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/w~H3Atz3V5ZWpT6XVYRAtw "Resources are the individuals or groups assigned to perform tasks and subtasks in Project Management.") * [Project and project task states](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bQblhSRKFYUFAtYcetZnEA "In the base system, the states in project and project task inherit the states in Task table.") * [Composite Fields](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/xrYvRuLnRLGaq_TgrJkoPw "A composite field combines information from two fields in a table to form a single field.") * [Cost plan breakdown](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pXf57bUi5lvSm6BRQ6GWBg#cost-plan-breakdown "A cost plan breakdown captures the estimated cost and actual cost for every fiscal period. Cost plan, project, demand, program, and portfolio are the breakdowns types that are available.") * [Actual project costs](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uL9KhrvjAuyzeZrC7xX~1Q "Actual project costs come after you create expense lines for cost plans or after human resources use time cards to create expense lines.") * [Types of external dependencies](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/zFT1dOQeaS1qRENDU90C1w "The Project management application supports two types of external dependencies - hard and soft.") * [Project and portfolio funding](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5Rt5yShNQZmK~iP1XUGadA "Specify the amount of money that projects and portfolios are allowed to have.") * [Task constraints](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/U0iRFFGc2Idu1sALd3diCg "Task constraints define the earliest or latest dates a task can start or finish in an automatically scheduled project. Apply constraints to align the schedule with resource availability, contract milestones, and external deadlines.") **Related tasks** * [Project tasks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NwKYF4DZA7WDeM3lp0vkwA "Create project tasks in several ways, even from other applications in the instance.") * [Schedule a project from a start date](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UnHtlUfhLTgPR1L~UMJTaA "Schedule a project from a start date and plan tasks and milestones based on your project requirements.") **Related reference** * [Task link types](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/f1uUvYPIjIUsIvOgNMJbNw "Task links define the dependency relationship between tasks. Linking tasks creates dependencies that affect task start and finish dates and determine the critical path. The following table describes the four supported link types.")