---
name: dependency-tracking-5dd7f1b3eaa2
description: >
  Map, track, and manage project dependencies across teams, systems, and
  organizations. Identify critical path items and prevent blocking issues
  through proactive dependency management.
---

# Dependency Tracking

## Table of Contents

- [Overview](#overview)
- [When to Use](#when-to-use)
- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Reference Guides](#reference-guides)
- [Best Practices](#best-practices)

## Overview

Dependency tracking ensures visibility of task relationships, identifies blocking issues early, and enables better resource planning and risk mitigation.

## When to Use

- Multi-team projects and programs
- Complex technical integrations
- Cross-organizational initiatives
- Identifying critical path items
- Resource allocation planning
- Preventing schedule delays
- Onboarding new team members

## Quick Start

Minimal working example:

```python
# Dependency mapping and tracking

class DependencyTracker:
    DEPENDENCY_TYPES = {
        'Finish-to-Start': 'Task B cannot start until Task A is complete',
        'Start-to-Start': 'Task B cannot start until Task A starts',
        'Finish-to-Finish': 'Task B cannot finish until Task A is complete',
        'Start-to-Finish': 'Task B cannot finish until Task A starts'
    }

    def __init__(self):
        self.tasks = []
        self.dependencies = []
        self.critical_path = []

    def create_dependency_map(self, tasks):
        """Create visual dependency network"""
        dependency_graph = {
            'nodes': [],
            'edges': [],
            'critical_items': []
        }

        for task in tasks:
            dependency_graph['nodes'].append({
// ... (see reference guides for full implementation)
```

## Reference Guides

Detailed implementations in the `references/` directory:

| Guide | Contents |
|---|---|
| [Dependency Mapping](references/dependency-mapping.md) | Dependency Mapping |
| [Dependency Management Board](references/dependency-management-board.md) | Dependency Management Board |
| [Dependency Resolution](references/dependency-resolution.md) | Dependency Resolution |
| [Dependency Dashboard Metrics](references/dependency-dashboard-metrics.md) | Dependency Dashboard Metrics |

## Best Practices

### ✅ DO

- Map dependencies early in planning
- Update dependency tracking weekly
- Identify and monitor critical path items
- Proactively communicate blockers
- Have contingency plans for key dependencies
- Break complex dependencies into smaller pieces
- Track external dependencies separately
- Escalate blocked critical path items immediately
- Remove unnecessary dependencies
- Build in buffer time for risky dependencies

### ❌ DON'T

- Ignore external dependencies
- Leave circular dependencies unresolved
- Assume dependencies will "work out"
- Skip daily monitoring of critical path
- Communicate issues only in status meetings
- Create too many dependencies (couples systems)
- Forget to document dependency rationale
- Avoid escalating blocked critical work
- Plan at 100% utilization (no buffer for dependencies)
- Treat all dependencies as equal priority


---
Source attribution: aj-geddes
Original project: https://github.com/aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts/blob/3f5182cfd739fc113f4af5244a1cf342ad7f7911/skills/dependency-tracking/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 AJ Geddes

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.


# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: aj-geddes
Original project: https://github.com/aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts/blob/3f5182cfd739fc113f4af5244a1cf342ad7f7911/skills/dependency-tracking/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Operations, Product Management, Project & Program Management
Roles: Business Process Analyst, Operations Manager, Program Manager, Project Manager, Technical Product Manager
Specialties: Cross Platform
Tools: Tool not specified
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 09c75dcd256483e85fc57fffefbd3adb95548d1d3444256e63a2473182c05837