Project Management ToolBox, 3rd Edition

14SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT

Schedule management consists of assuring that project work is accomplished according to the planned timeline, assessing changes in the timeline based upon changes to the project, and establishing a new baseline schedule when necessary. Generally, there is minimal concern if work is completed earlier than planned, so primary attention is focused on preventing schedule slippage. The primary exception being if early work completion creates a cash flow problem later in the project or is due to taking quality shortcuts.

Schedule slips caused by scope changes or major resource adjustment are fairly easy to detect. However, humans are inherently poor at managing their time—both personal and professional (see “Tips for Better Time Management”)—and as a result, most slippage occurs one day at a time and is more difficult to detect. Project managers need to be vigilant about preventing slippage from accumulating to a conspicuous and unacceptable level. To do so, they need to have tools that provide early warning of potential and realized schedule slips.

The tools presented in this chapter provide a variety of options for early warning detection of schedule slippage. Some tools are more suited for smaller projects, some for larger projects, others for complex projects, and still others for simple projects. Since the type of project a project manager will be called upon to manage will likely vary over the course of his or her career, it is recommended that each tool ...