Project Schedule

Template

  • template coming soon

Created by

  • Project Manager

Reviewed by

  • Business Analyst
  • Project Lead
  • Developer
  • Subject Matter Expert
  • Sponsor

Approved by

Usually no formal approval required.  If there is an approval, it would be by Sponsor

Requirement

All projects require a schedule.  The complexity of the project drives how complex the schedule becomes

Additional tools

Guidelines

  • An initial schedule should be stored as a baseline and should not change for the duration of the project. For larger projects, this could be included in the Project Management Plan
  • Many different tools have been used to create schedules (MS Project, Excel, etc)
  • The schedule will change through the duration of the project and must be kept up to date (changes can be due to resources, risk triggers, scope changes, etc)
  • The tool and schedule must account for:
    • Resource availability on the project
    • Task dependencies
    • Non-flexible, fixed dates
    • Clearly identified milestones
    • Clearly identified critical path (the longest chain of tasks based upon task dependencies)
    • Realistic dates
    • Priority of tasks in relation to other tasks
    • Optimization around the least available resources
    • Eliminate concurrent multi-tasking as much as possible for maximum resource productivity (i.e., allow the resources to finish one task before starting another as much as possible)
    • Use caution when padding task duration – this increases overall project lead times and when tasks do finish early, subsequent tasks don’t always benefit. Parkinson’s Law advises resources be provided with the least possible time because they will use all of the possible time and still do their work at the last minute
    • Once the schedule has been optimized around critical resources, buffers can be added for resource, capacity and project phases. This can be accomplished by using buffers at the end of a series of tasks – allows emphasis to be placed on managing the buffer instead of individual task start and end times
    • Strategically place “buffers” to minimize the domino effect of minor schedule fluctuations on scheduled activities and least available resources
    • Make it your business to determine if resources are working on other projects and if timelines conflict with your project. Build in buffers to account for this