6.6 Control Schedule

It is the process of monitoring the status of the project to update the project schedule and managing changes to the schedule baseline.

The key benefit: the schedule baseline is maintained throughout the project.

Frequency: throughout the project.

Process/ Assets Group	Input	The process	Output	Process / Assets Group
Project Management Plan	Schedule management plan	6.6 Control Schedule	Work performance information	4.5 Monitor and Control Project Work
	Schedule baseline		Change Request	4.6 Perform Integrated Change Control
	Scope baseline		Schedule management plan	Project Management Plan
	Performance measurement baseline		Schedule baseline
Project Documents	Lesson learned register		Cost baseline
	Project calendars		Performance measurement baseline
	Project schedule		Schedule forecast	Project Documents
	Resource calendars		Assumption log
	Schedule data		Basis of estimates
4.3 Direct and Manage Project Work	Work performance data		Lesson learned register
Enterprise / Organization	Organizational process assets		Project schedule
			Resource calendars
			Risk register
			Schedule data

The process concerns with:

• Determining the current status of the project schedule,
• Influencing the factors that create schedule changes,
• Reconsidering necessary schedule reserves,
• Determining if the project schedule has changed,
• Managing the actual changes as they occur.

For agile approach:

• Determining the current status of the project schedule by comparing the total amount of work delivered and accepted against the estimates of work completed for the elapsed time cycle;
• Conducting retrospectives for correcting processes and improving, if required;
• Reprioritizing the remaining work plan (backlog);
• Determining the rate at which the deliverables are produced, validated, and accepted (velocity) in the given time per iteration;
• Determining that the project schedule has changed;
• Managing the actual changes as they occur.

For contractual work the milestones are controlled. Scheduled status reviews and walkthroughs should be done to verify the contractor reports.

6.6.1 Inputs

6.6.1.1 Project Management Plan

Includes:

• Schedule management plan. Frequency to update, reserve usage, how to control;
• Schedule baseline. To compare actual with baseline.
• Scope baseline.
• Performance measurement baseline.

6.6.1.2 Project Documents

Include:

• Lesson learned register.
• Project calendars.
• Project schedule.
• Resource calendars.
• Schedule data.

6.6.1.3 Work Performance Data

• Started activities;
• Actual duration;
• Remaining duration;
• Physical percent complete;
• Completed activities.

6.6.

6.6.1.4 Organizational Process Assets

Include:

• Existing formal/informal schedule control-related policies, procedures, guidelines;
• Schedule control tools;
• Monitoring and reporting methods to be used.

6.6.2 Tools and Techniques

6.6.2.1 Data Analysis

Includes:

• Earned value analysis. To assess the magnitude of variation to the original schedule baseline;
• Iteration burndown chart. To track the work remaining to be completed in the iteration backlog. Variance with an ideal burndown (diagonal line) is analyzed. A forecast trend line is used to predict the likely variance at iteration completion.

• Performance reviews. To measure, compare, analyze schedule performance against the baseline: actual start and finish dates, percent complete, remaining duration for work in progress.
• Trend analysis. To analyze performance over time.
• Variance analysis. Analysis of variances in planned values versus actual for start/finish dates, duration, float. Also cause, degree, future implications.
• What-if scenario analysis.

6.6.2.2 Critical Path Method

Progress along the critical path -> schedule status.

6.6.2.3 Project Management Information System (PMIS)

Track planned dates versus actual dates.

6.6.2.4 Resource Optimization

6.6.2.5 Leads and Lags

Adjusting leads and lags to find way to bring project activities into alignment with the plan.

6.6.2.6 Schedule Compression

6.6.3 Outputs

6.6.3.1 Work Performance Information

6.6.3.2 Schedule Forecasts

• Earned value performance indicators,
• Schedule reserve information.

6.6.3.3 Change Requests

Schedule variance analysis/progress reports reviews/performance measures/modification of the project scope/modification of project schedule => change requests.

6.6.3.4 Project Management Plan Updates

Includes:

• Schedule management plan.
• Schedule baseline. Changes in project scope, resources, activity duration, results of schedule compression, performance issues.
• Cost baseline.
• Performance measurement baseline.

6.6.3.5 Project Documents Updates

Include:

• Assumption log.
• Basis of estimates.
• Lesson learned register.
• Project schedule.
• Resource calendars.
• Risk register.
• Schedule data.