Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam 2026 - Free CHIMA Practice Questions and Study Guide

The requirement that one step in a project must be completed before another can begin is known as a dependency. Dependencies are essential for project management, as they define the sequence of tasks and help in scheduling the project effectively. Understanding dependencies allows project managers to identify how tasks are interrelated, which is crucial for developing timelines and resource allocation strategies.

In a project, recognizing these dependencies ensures that no task starts before its prerequisites are completed, ultimately contributing to smoother workflows and reducing the risk of delays. This concept is particularly vital in complex projects where multiple tasks may be occurring simultaneously, and the timely completion of one task could affect the start of another.

The other options do not accurately represent this specific requirement in project management. A critical path refers to the sequence of stages determining the minimum time needed for an operation, but it doesn't define the completion prerequisite for each task. Encryption relates to data protection and security, while a flow chart is a visual representation of a process rather than a condition governing the order of task completion.