Task

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

• AKA: Problem, Work Unit, Assignment, Job, Undertaking.
• Context:
  • Task Input: resources, skills, data, information
    • Optional Input: time constraints, prerequisites, context parameters
  • Task Output: completion state, deliverables, results, artifacts
  • Task Performance Measure: effectiveness, efficiency, quality, accuracy, timeliness
  • ...
  • It can typically have Task Requirements, such as task mandates or task constraints.
  • It can typically be solved by a Task Solving System with prerequisite task capabilities.
  • It can typically be performed by a Task Performer using task tools and task methods.
  • It can typically require Task Knowledge and task skills for task execution.
  • It can typically follow Task Standards and task quality guidelines.
  • It can typically involve Task Processes through task structured executions.
  • It can typically generate Task Outcomes via task completion mechanisms.
  • It can typically demonstrate Task Characteristics through task properties.
  • ...
  • It can often have Core Task Dimensions through task characteristics:
    • Skill Variety for utilizing different task abilities.
    • Task Identity for establishing clear task workflows.
    • Task Significance for determining task impact.
    • Task Autonomy for enabling task decision freedom.
    • Task Feedback for measuring task performance.
  • It can often require Task Dependency Management for task sequencing.
  • It can often involve Task Risks requiring task mitigation strategies.
  • It can often benefit from Task Optimization through task efficiency improvements.
  • It can often generate Task Artifacts as task work products.
  • It can often require Task Coordination among task participants.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Specific Task to being a Benchmarking Task, depending on its task evaluation purpose.
  • It can range from being a Performed Task to being an Unperformed Task, depending on its task execution status.
  • It can range from being an Unplanned Task to being a Planned Task, depending on its task preparation level.
  • It can range from being an Informally-Defined Task to being a Formally-Defined Task, depending on its task specification rigor.
  • It can range from being a Manual Task to being a Hybrid Task to being an Automated Task, depending on its task 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 task performer count.
  • It can range from being a General Task Type to being a Domain Specific Task, depending on its task application scope.
  • It can range from being a Well-Defined Task to being an Ill-Defined Task, depending on its task output clarity.
  • It can range from being a Paid Task to being an Unpaid Task, depending on its task compensation status.
  • It can range from being a Routine Task to being a Novel Task, depending on its task predictability.
  • It can range from being a Discrete Task to being a Continuous Task, depending on its task temporal boundary.
  • It can range from being a Independent Task to being a Dependent Task, depending on its task relationship structure.
  • It can range from being a Critical Task to being a Optional Task, depending on its task importance level.
  • It can range from being a Atomic Task to being a Composite Task, depending on its task decomposition level.
  • ...
  • It can be instantiated in Task Sessions composed of task actions.
  • It can be associated with a Task Solution Attempt during task execution.
  • It can be associated with a Task Issue requiring task resolution.
  • It can be associated to a Benchmark Task to evaluate task performance.
  • It can be a Subtask of a Composite Task in task hierarchies.
  • It can be described by a Task Description specifying task details.
  • It can be part of a Project or Process within task workflows.
  • It can involve Task Planning aspects for task preparation.
  • It can use Task Environments for task execution context.
  • It can follow Task Methodology for task structured completion.
  • It can involve Task Tracking for task progress monitoring.
  • It can require Task Validation to verify task completion.
  • It can be defined in Task Ontologies for task knowledge representation.
  • It can present Task Challenges requiring task problem solving.
  • It can belong to Task Sets within task collections.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Information Processing Tasks, such as:
    • Data Management Tasks, such as:
      • Data Collection Task for gathering task information.
      • Data Conversion Task for task format transformation.
      • Data Analysis Task for task insight extraction.
      • Data Validation Task for task quality assurance.
    • CRUD Tasks, such as:
      • Create Task for task data creation.
      • Edit Task for task data modification.
      • Delete Task for task data removal.
      • Insert Task for task data insertion.
    • Search Tasks, such as:
      • Information Retrieval Task for task document finding.
      • Pattern Search Task for task pattern identification.
      • Optimization Search Task for task solution finding.
  • Computational Tasks, such as:
    • Algorithm Tasks, such as:
      • Sorting Task for organizing task data elements.
      • Busy Beaver Task for task theoretical computation.
      • Graph Algorithm Task for task network processing.
    • Machine Learning Tasks, such as:
      • Supervised Learning Task with defined task training data.
      • Collective Classification Task for task group labeling.
      • Multi-Task Learning for task simultaneous learning.
      • Reinforcement Learning Task for task policy optimization.
    • Natural Language Tasks, such as:
      • Text Processing Task for task document analysis.
      • Canonicalization Task for task text normalization.
      • Annotation Task for task linguistic markup.
      • Topic Indexing Task for task content organization.
  • Problem-Solving Tasks, such as:
    • Optimization Tasks, such as:
      • Linear Programming Task for task resource optimization.
      • Constraint Satisfaction Task for task solution finding.
      • Satisficing Task for task adequate solution.
    • Decision Tasks, such as:
      • Selection Task for task choice making.
      • Prioritization Task for task order determination.
      • Risk Assessment Task for task danger evaluation.
  • Domain-Specific Tasks, such as:
    • Scientific Tasks, such as:
      • Bioinformatics Task for task biological analysis.
      • Research Task for task knowledge discovery.
      • Experiment Task for task hypothesis testing.
    • Professional Tasks, such as:
      • Legal Task for task law application.
      • Medical Task for task health service.
      • Engineering Task for task system design.
      • Educational Task for task learning facilitation.
    • Business Tasks, such as:
      • Financial Task for task money management.
      • Marketing Task for task demand generation.
      • Operational Task for task process execution.
  • Collaborative Tasks, such as:
    • Team Tasks requiring task group coordination.
    • Negotiation Tasks for task agreement reaching.
    • Supporting Tasks for task assistance provision.
    • Education Tasks for task knowledge transfer.
  • Creative Tasks, such as:
    • Generation Tasks for task content creation.
    • Design Tasks for task solution development.
    • Innovation Tasks for task novelty production.
  • Maintenance Tasks, such as:
    • System Maintenance Task for task system upkeep.
    • Preprocessing Task for task data preparation.
    • Validation Task for task quality control.
  • Administrative Tasks, such as:
    • Documentation Task for task record keeping.
    • Compliance Task for task regulation adherence.
    • Scheduling Task for task time management.
  • Physical Tasks, such as:
    • Manual Labor Task for task physical work.
    • Assembly Task for task component integration.
    • Construction Task for task structure building.
  • Iterative Tasks requiring task repeated execution.
  • Instantiation Tasks for task concept implementation.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Project, which encompasses multiple tasks with broader project scope.
  • Natural Process, which occurs without defined task requirements or task goals.
  • Random Event, which happens without task purposeful direction.
  • Goal, which represents desired task outcome but not the task work process.
  • Process, which defines process workflow but not specific task work units.
  • Activity, which involves activity action but may lack specific task objectives.
  • State, which represents state condition rather than task work requirement.
  • Capability, which indicates capability potential rather than task actual work.
• See: Task Generalization, Multi-Task Learning, Task Ontology, Task Performance, Task Issue, Task Challenge, Task Set, Project Management, Dependency (Project Management), Work Unit, Activity, Assignment, Workflow, Performance Measurement, Problem Solving, Algorithm, Process, Event.

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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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