How does a 'task dependency' function in project management?

A task dependency in project management fundamentally signifies a relationship between tasks where the completion of one task is a prerequisite for another to commence. This structured approach ensures that the workflow progresses in a logical sequence, enhancing project efficiency and minimizing bottlenecks.

For instance, if you have a project where the design of a product needs to be finalized before the manufacturing process can start, the design task holds a dependency over the manufacturing task. By establishing this dependency, project managers can better allocate resources, manage timelines, and ensure that every task is initiated only when the necessary preceding tasks are completed.

Task dependencies are critical for maintaining the integrity of project schedules and for providing clear visibility into the interrelationships of tasks, which can aid in risk management and adjustment of timelines when unforeseen delays occur.

The other choices correspond to concepts that are significant in project management but don’t accurately define task dependencies. Task complexity refers to the difficulty or intricacy of a task, grouping pertains to organizing tasks into clusters for better management, and tracking time relates to measuring how long tasks take to complete. Each of these plays an important role in project management, yet they do not capture the essence of what a task dependency specifically entails.