What is float in SAP PS - Project System?

SAP Term: float

• Component: PS

• Component Name: Project System

• Description: The slack time between activities. In the network, you can use floats to move activities between their earliest and latest dates or to extend durations. When the system schedules the network, it calculates the following floats: Total float Free float

Smart SAP Assistant

• Key Concepts: 
  Float is a term used in the Project System (PS) component of SAP. It is a measure of the amount of time that a task can be delayed without delaying the completion of the entire project. Float is calculated by subtracting the Early Start date from the Late Start date. 
  
  How to use it: 
  In order to calculate float, you must first determine the Early Start and Late Start dates for a task. The Early Start date is the earliest possible date that a task can begin, while the Late Start date is the latest possible date that a task can begin without delaying the completion of the entire project. Once these dates are determined, float can be calculated by subtracting the Early Start date from the Late Start date. 
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  It is important to remember that float is not an exact measure of how much time a task can be delayed; it is only an estimate. Therefore, it is important to monitor tasks closely and adjust their start and end dates as needed in order to ensure that the project is completed on time. 
  
  Related Information: 
  Float is closely related to another term used in Project System, Critical Path. The Critical Path is the sequence of tasks that must be completed in order for a project to be completed on time. Float can be used to identify tasks on the Critical Path and prioritize them accordingly.