How to Develop a Schedule: PMP® Process and Inputs

Struggling to keep your projects on track and delivered on time?As project managers, we face this challenge daily. The solution lies in mastering the Develop Schedule process described by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to create effective project schedules. This process helps determine which tasks to complete, what resources those tasks require, and the overall project timeline.

Developing a solid project schedule is crucial to successful project management because it ensures timely project completion. This process transforms chaos into clarity—turning overwhelming project demands into manageable, sequential steps that your team can execute with confidence.

We’ll walk you through this essential process in this post, showing you how to move from project uncertainty to delivery certainty.

On this page:

• The Develop Schedule process for project management
• What is Develop Schedule PMP?
• Process for Develop Schedule PMP
• When to use the Develop Schedule process
• Required inputs to Develop Schedule process
• Tips for creating a project schedule
• What happens after Develop Schedule?
• Summary

The Develop Schedule process for project management

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) is the PMI flagship publication. The PMBOK® Guide – 6th edition includes the planning process: definition, inputs, and outputs, which outlines the Develop Schedule process. 

The PMBOK® Guide – 6th edition is one of many PMI resources that can help project managers understand the scheduling concept, one of the most critical areas of project management. 

What is Develop Schedule PMP?

The Develop Schedule process is a critical knowledge area frequently tested on the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exam from PMI. To earn your PMP® certification, you must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of schedule management concepts and the develop schedule process, regardless of which project management methodology you use.

This process forms a cornerstone of effective project management and represents essential knowledge that every certified project manager must master.

The Develop Schedule process, informally called “develop schedule PMP,” is when the project manager, along with help from the team, creates the project schedule. Through the development of the project schedule, the project manager can:

• identify the critical path (the sequence of required activities to reach the project goals),
• document the project start and stop
• determine activity durations 

The Develop Schedule process inputs and outputs are part of the project artifacts and documents. Therefore, the PMP certification exam could include questions regarding any aspect of the Develop Schedule process. 

Process for Develop Schedule PMP

The Develop Schedule process belongs to the Project Schedule Management Knowledge Area outlined in the PMBOK® Guide – 6th edition. This process serves two critical functions: it helps identify potential problems that may arise during project execution and develops solutions to address them proactively.

Additionally, a well-developed schedule plays a vital role in cost control by ensuring all tasks are completed on time and within budget, preventing costly delays and resource overruns that can derail project success.

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When to use the Develop Schedule process

While you don’t need PMP certification to understand that project schedules change, earning your PMP will equip you with the skills to prepare for and manage these changes effectively, ensuring your schedule remains accurate and supports informed project decision-making.

Initial Development: The Develop Schedule process should occur early in the project during the Planning Process Group. This timing is essential because the schedule directly influences budget estimations that depend on the project timeline.

Ongoing Updates: Project schedules are living documents, not static artifacts. As your project progresses, the schedule may require updates with appropriate approvals. PMP-certified project managers understand that changes in activity duration must be reflected and tracked throughout the project lifecycle.

Practical Example: Consider a critical activity estimated to take three business days that actually requires ten business days to complete. The project manager must repeat the Develop Schedule process to update the schedule based on actual performance. This extended duration affects dependent activities and project outputs, demonstrating why the Develop Schedule process remains vital throughout project execution.

The key is recognizing that schedule development is both a planning activity and an ongoing project management responsibility.

To conduct the Project Schedule Management process using PMI standard procedures (which a Project Manager with PMP certification should know), complete these traditional project planning processes:

• Plan Schedule Management (create the plan for how to manage the schedule)
• Define activities (including scope)
• Sequence activities (in what order do the activities need to occur and which are dependent upon which)
• Estimate activity durations (how long from start to finish for each activity)
• Develop the Schedule (listing the sequenced activities, with their durations and required resources)

PMP certification exam questions could include scheduling scenarios that assess your ability to determine the best next step when presented with one or more aspects of the Develop Schedule process. So be sure to spend time understanding the process of developing a schedule in your PMP certification exam prep work.

Required inputs to Develop Schedule process

The complexity of the project will have a direct impact on how many inputs are needed. In general, PMI publications state the develop schedule process requires the following inputs:

• Project Information
  • Project Plan
  • Project scope statement
• Activity information
  • Activity list
  • Activity attributes
  • Activity duration estimates
  • Activity resource requirements
• Enterprise Environmental Factors
• Organizational Process Assets
• Project schedule network diagrams
• Calendars
  • Company calendar
  • Resource calendars

This list is not exhaustive, nor does it serve as a universal checklist that applies to every project at every company. However, completing the rigorous studies required to earn your PMP certification will provide you with the critical insights necessary to effectively adjust project schedules and successfully execute the schedule development process.

Tips for creating a project schedule

Creating a project schedule is no small undertaking, even for someone with a PMP certification, and it depends on the project’s scope and complexity. Use these tips to improve your success with the develop schedule process:

• Be realistic about the timeline of the project. It is essential to be realistic about how long each task will take and how much time you have to complete the project for an accurate schedule.  
• Include as much detail as possible in the project schedule. The more information you can include, the easier it will be to track progress and identify potential problems.  
• Update the Schedule regularly. An iterative approach to schedule updates will help ensure everyone is on the same page and the project is still on track.  
• Communicate the Schedule to all stakeholders and do so frequently! Constant communication will help ensure that everyone knows what is happening and when.

The communication of the schedule includes encouraging the team to communicate activity changes so that, as the project manager, you can gain approval for and make needed project schedule updates based on your Schedule Management Plan. Additionally, following PMI best practices as reflected on the PMP certification exam, the project manager should regularly provide schedule progress and updates to the project team and key stakeholders.

What happens after Develop Schedule?

Once you have completed the work required in the Develop Schedule process, move to the next part of the Schedule Management Process: assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and allocate resources. Once the Schedule is in place, it is vital to monitor it closely to ensure the project stays on track. If any problems occur, the project manager should work with the team and any governance bodies to adjust the Schedule to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget.

Summary

Plan it right, deliver on sight. To prep for your upcoming PMP certification exam or as part of ongoing skill development to maintain your PMP certification, mastering the Develop Schedule process is non-negotiable. The inputs and outputs from this process integrate into every aspect of your project management approach, ensuring your projects stay on track from conception to completion.

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