Category Archives: Schedule Baseline
Risks, Benchmarks, and Innovations
The question often thrown on the table is to whom should management listen? How can management be sure they are getting the right information? There is no certain answer to this, but a discerning manager can listen to everyone on duty and identify the real substance. When everyone sings in chorus and one does not, it does not mean he is wrong. Continue reading
Risk-based Management in the World of Threats and Opportunities: A Project Controls Perspective
Risk-based Management in the World of Threats and Opportunities: A Project Controls Perspective Continue reading
Risk-based Planning and Scheduling Slides (SAIT Presentation)
101116 Risk-based Planning & Scheduling (My SAIT Slides) from RUFRAN FRAGO, P. Eng., PMP®, CCP, RMP®, Author
Hold your breath! These are Phantom Schedules!
“Now, the fun begins. It gets even more exciting when two opposing poles get near each other debating project change notices and non-compliance reports. Arguments usually boil down to the definition of a schedule baseline and the right way to manage it. If there is no governing prior agreement, it becomes difficult to reconcile, as the expected answer has to satisfy both clients and contractors (or whichever party is involved). The perennial argument revolving around schedule baseline management is probably as old as when the term was first coined. It is sad to detect that many, especially project managers just kept on missing the points of control (Frago, R., 2016.Schedule Baseline Dilemma Part 1).”
Warning: A phantom schedule can work against its proponents in the end if sponsors are not careful.
Ghost schedule removes time management focus from the officially approved contractual schedule. Complications start when this happen.
Client cannot effectively use the phantom schedule in officially discussing path forward with the contractor. It is not an acceptable driver to get the contractor going another way. After all, this schedule does not exist. Continue reading
Project Schedule Baseline Top Ten Prerequisites
Baseline prerequisites:
1. The baseline schedule shall represent the most likely schedule
The baseline schedule is the most-likely schedule. It does not have built-in float, buffer duration, or/and dummy activities. It is neither optimistic nor pessimistic (tight or lax).
Reminder:
It has full complement of qualified resources, with no embedded risk or any built-in schedule contingency.
2. An official project BL Schedule shall be a result of Interactive Planning
All baselines set from Gate 2 onward shall be the result of an interactive planning session.
3. Schedule scope shall equal plan scope
The plan scope shall be the same scope reflected in the baseline schedule that follows. Planned scope and the scheduled scope must be in alignment. A schedule cannot have more than the scope in the plan. Otherwise, the project faces a problem (Frago, Schedule Baseline Dilemma Part 1, 2015).
Read the whole article for complete list! Continue reading
Ten Cardinal Rules to Good Schedule BL Management
When client and contractor start throwing accusations against each other surrounding schedule baseline, one can easily conclude that a problem or issue is brewing. It can turn into big risks (Frago, Schedule Baseline Dilemma Part 1, 2015). Resolving the contentions between opposing parties can take long and potentially, can end in disaster.
To prevent such occurrence, the project must start with the right foot forward. The project manager, all his planners, and schedulers, including his contract administrators must have a solid understanding on how the project intends to manage schedule baselines.
If baseline management is not part of the plan, the project is trekking on dangerous territory. Continue reading
