Task

A Task is an activity with requirements for a specific Input and output in order to accomplish a specific objective.

• AKA: Problem.
• Context:
  • Task Input: resources, skills
    • Optional Input: time constraints, prerequisites
  • Task Output: completion state, deliverables
  • Task Performance Measure: effectiveness, efficiency, quality
  • ...
  • It can have Task Requirements, such as task mandates or task constraints.
  • It can be solved by a System (with prerequisite capabilities that, for example, implements a process or algorithm).
  • It can be performed by a Task Performer using task tools.
  • It can require Task Knowledge and task skills.
  • It can follow Task Standards and quality guidelines.
  • It can involve Task Processes through structured executions.
  • ...
  • It can have Core Dimensions through task characteristics:
    • Skill Variety for utilizing different abilities.
    • Task Identity for establishing clear workflows.
    • Task Significance for determining impact.
    • Task Autonomy for enabling decision freedom.
    • Task Feedback for measuring performance.
  • ...
  • It can use Task Environments for execution.
  • It can follow Task Methodology for structured completion.
  • It can involve Task Tracking for monitoring progress.
  • It can require Task Validation to verify completion.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Performed Task to being an Unperformed Task.
  • It can range from being an Unplanned Task to being a Planned Task.
  • It can range from being an Informally-Defined Task to being a Formally-Defined Task.
  • It can range from being a Manual Task to being a Hybrid Task to being an Automated Task, depending on its automation level.
  • It can range from being a Simple Task to being a Complex Task, depending on its task complexity.
  • It can range from being a Basic Task to being an Advanced Task, depending on its task sophistication.
  • It can range from being an Individual Task to being a Team Task, depending on its performer count.
  • It can range from being a General Task Type (such as searching) to being a Domain Specific Task (such as semantic role labeling).
  • It can range, depending on the task output, from being a Well-Defined Task to being an Ill-Defined Task.
  • It can range from being a Paid Task to being an Unpaid Task.
  • It can range from being a Routine Task to being a Novel Task, depending on its predictability.
  • ...
  • It can be associated with a Task Solution Attempt.
  • It can be associated with a Task Issue.
  • It can be associated to a Benchmark Task (to evaluate task performance).
  • It can be a Subtask of a Composite Task.
  • It can be described by a Task Description.
  • It can be part of a Project or Process.
  • It can involve Planning aspects for preparation.
  • It can support Task Classifications through category types:
    • Generation Tasks for planning and creativity.
    • Selection Tasks for problem-solving and decision-making.
    • Negotiation Tasks for conflict resolution.
    • Execution Tasks for performance and competition.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Computing Tasks, such as:
    • Supervised Learning Task, which has several Supervised Learning Benchmark Tasks
    • Relation Mention Recognition Task, a type of NLP Task
    • Sorting Task can be solved by a Sorting System (that implements a Sorting Algorithm)
    • Annotation Task (See: Penn Treebank Project)
    • n-Queens Task
    • Knapsack Optimization Task
    • Linear Programming Task
  • Creation Tasks, such as:
    • Item Creation Task for production systems
    • Service Creation Task for operational systems
    • Process Creation Task for workflow systems
  • Analysis Tasks, such as:
    • Data Analysis Task for research systems
    • System Analysis Task for evaluation systems
  • Management Tasks, such as:
    • Resource Management Task for organizational systems
    • Process Management Task for control systems
  • Operation Tasks, such as:
    • System Operation Task for technical systems
    • Service Operation Task for support systems
  • Physical Tasks, such as:
    • Manual Labor Tasks for physical production
    • Maintenance Tasks for system upkeep
  • Domain Specific Tasks, such as credit scoring
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • a Project, which encompasses multiple tasks and broader scope
  • a Natural Process, which occurs without defined requirements or goals
  • a Random Event, which happens without purposeful direction
  • a Goal, which represents the desired outcome but not the work process
  • a Process, which defines the workflow but not the specific work unit
• See: Project Management, Dependency (Project Management), Work Unit, Activity, Assignment, Workflow, Performance Measurement.

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References

2013

• (Wikipedia, 2013) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_(project_management) Retrieved:2013-12-13.
  • In project management, a task is an activity that needs to be accomplished within a defined period of time or by a deadline. A task can be broken down into assignments which should also have a defined start and end date or a deadline for completion. One or more assignments on a task puts the task under execution. Completion of all assignments on a specific task normally renders the task completed. Tasks can be linked together to create dependencies.

    In most projects, tasks may suffer one of two major drawbacks:

    • Task dependency: Which is normal as most tasks rely on others to get done. However, this can lead to the stagnation of a project when many tasks cannot get started unless others are finished.
    • Unclear understanding of the term complete: For example, if a task is 90% complete, does this mean that it will take only 1/9 of the time already spent on this task to finish it? Although this is mathematically sound, it is rarely the case when it comes to practice.

2009

• wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
  • assign a task to; "I tasked him with looking after the children"
  • undertaking: any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted; "he prepared for great undertakings"
  • tax: use to the limit; "you are taxing my patience"
  • job: a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee; "estimates of the city's loss on that job ranged as high as a million dollars"; "the job of repairing the engine took several hours"; "the endless task of classifying the samples"; "the farmer's morning chores"
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/task
  • 1. A piece of work done as part of one’s duties.
  • 2. A difficult or tedious undertaking.
  • 3. An objective.
  • 4. (computing) A process or execution of a program.

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