Hi there! I am working on building out a project plan template that we will use for onboarding. There are multiple branching paths and decision points that need to be made throughout the process, which determine if certain steps must be taken. I've managed to set up a way to "deactivate" tasks based on those conditions using a helper column, as seen below. When that is flagged, the task is automatically marked as
Since most of these tasks will not be needed, I have them deactivated until it is determined that yes, we will need them in the process. When the decision is blank it is deactivated, but then another helper column is blank until that decision is made.
I was able to set it up to 'delete' the task [clear the assigned to cell and move it into a background sheet that isn't used] using those two helper columns.
However, I would prefer to not have the timing for these tasks included in the plan at all until the decision is made that yes, we do need them. As it is now, that extended duration is in place until we decide no, we do not need them.
As an example, we have a task later in the process that cannot be completed until we have a certain approval. If we have it, the task can happen on 4/1/24. However, is we do not have it, we must wait 2 weeks, say pushing the due date back to 4/15. 99% of the time that will be approved, but if the owner of the dependency has been working on the assumption of 4/15 being the due date, and then we note the approval, I don't want to due date to suddenly change to 4/1. I would much rather they be targeting 4/1, and then find out later they must push back.
Given that, I suppose I have 2 questions:
- Is there a way to have a task duration be 0 or set up something like that with predecessors until it is decided we do need that task, at which point it fills in with a predetermined information automatically?
- Is there any better way to handle branching paths and decision points in a workflow?
Thank you!
