Float (project management)

A time window is one available for a given event time quota ( maximum available time ).

Time windows exist in all areas and situations. The term is so especially in the technology and in business related (work, project and task time).

The event, in which the buffer time is borderline, called time- critical event. This gives rise to so-called time pressure. The efforts for the completion of this critical path must therefore be promoted.

Time windows play a major role in project planning, mostly because each sub-project of another completed subprojects depends. By defining the time window can only take place a prediction for the completion of a project. In time windows therefore will always be a time buffer in the calculation (the one time period that is actually necessary plus the period of time acting as a safety margin ). If a time window is exceeded, there may be delays in the wake. In certain areas, for example in art, a system failure, an accident or the occurrence of chaos reactions in the sense of chaos theory is also quite possible.

Time windows play a central role in the network planning.

Due to tight time window is created in the working life time pressure, some workers deliberately put under time pressure. For the employer, there is an increase in productivity. At a certain time pressure caused stress and errors.

Examples

• On a production line of a station is given a time window of 25 seconds to perform a task on a workpiece, then it is transported further ( but it is irrelevant for the transport, whether the task has been fulfilled)
• A favorable weather provides for an expedition a window of time to traverse a dangerous area.
• The fertile days in a woman's cycle is a window of time to get pregnant can.
• In the signal analysis, a time signal is divided and processed in the digital recording into individual time slots.
• Space probes, for energetic reasons (limited power of the carrier rocket) only within a certain period, the launch window, started on their mission.
• Biological window of time describes the period as may remain an individual to fulfill a task or the remaining period of life on earth.