Mastering the Art of Scheduling How to Avoid Costly Scheduling Errors

Mastering the Art of Scheduling: How to Avoid Costly Scheduling Errors

Scheduling in project management is a delicate balance of planning and execution. Schedules are central to a project’s success, and the most skilled practitioners anticipate changes and plan accordingly to ensure that they complete their projects on time and within budget. Poor planning and failure to account for unforeseen risks cause delays and tax resources, …

Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO

What is a Project Schedule Network Diagram

What is a Project Schedule Network Diagram?

Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification requires knowledge of the project schedule network diagram in terms of types, benefits, and how to create one. PMP credential holders should also know how to use the project schedule network diagram to identify the critical path and float for the project to enhance all schedule management. On this page: …

Megan Bell

Project Scheduling: Methodology & Techniques

Scheduling Methodology: Build & Control Your Project Schedule

A scheduling methodology is a system or process used to create, implement, and track the progress of a schedule. There are many different scheduling methodologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. The most critical factor in choosing a scheduling method is finding one that best fits the needs of your specific project. On this page: Scheduling …

Megan Bell

Schedule Baseline How to Create, Use and Optimize

Schedule Baseline: How to Create, Use, and Optimize

The schedule baseline serves an essential purpose in every project: A tool to measure the project’s progress against the stakeholder-approved project schedule. Additionally, as an output from the schedule development process, the project schedule baseline is used in conjunction with the scope and cost baseline to form the performance measurement baseline. On this page: What …

Megan Bell

Develop Schedule PMP® Process and Inputs

Develop Schedule: PMP® Process and Inputs

A project manager should use the Develop Schedule process described by Project Management Institute (PMI) to create a project schedule. It is a process that helps determine the tasks to complete, the resources needed for those tasks, and the overall project timeline. Developing the project schedule is essential to project management as it helps ensure …

Megan Bell

Techniques for Schedule Compression Crashing vs. Fast Tracking

PMP Exam Prep: Fast-Tracking vs. Crash Schedule

Project professionals are skillful planners and multitaskers, capable of juggling multiple priorities, big and small, every day. Yet, even after careful preparation, plans can change, projects delay, and it’s up to the project manager to get things back on track. In these instances, the project manager or Project Management Professional (PMP)® may use two schedule …

Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO

Control Schedule in Project Management

Control Schedule in Project Management

Projects consist of many moving parts that project managers must track consistently. A fundamental responsibility in project management is knowing whether a project is behind or ahead of schedule. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the process for monitoring schedule progress against the baseline is called control schedule. Project planning, monitoring, and controlling all …

Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO

Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO

Using a Project Schedule in Project Management

PMP Exam Prep: Using a Project Schedule in Project Management

Organization, efficiency, and transparency are all central to good project management. Every project benefits from having a schedule outlining the tasks that need to be accomplished. Project schedules should be updated regularly to reflect any changes in the timeline or milestones of the project. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page and …

Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO

How to Use a Schedule Model in Project Management

How to Use a Schedule Model in Project Management

Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential holders are expert organizers capable of seeing complex projects through to completion. Directing projects from beginning to end is no small feat, and project managers employ an array of tools to ensure tasks are assigned, team members are aligned, and projects are completed on time and within the allotted budget. …

Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO