4.5 Develop Schedule - 4.5 Develop Schedule
Develop Schedule is a critical process in Project Time Management that involves integrating the project activities, dependencies, and duration estimates to create a comprehensive project schedule. This process ensures that the project timeline is realistic and achievable, helping the project team to manage time effectively and meet project deadlines.
Key Concepts
1. Activity List
The Activity List is a comprehensive list of all the activities required to complete the project. It includes detailed descriptions of each activity, ensuring that all team members have a clear understanding of what needs to be done. The Activity List is a key input to the Develop Schedule process.
Example: For a construction project, the Activity List might include tasks such as "Excavate Foundation," "Lay Concrete," "Install Plumbing," and "Erect Walls." Each task is clearly defined to avoid any ambiguity.
2. Activity Sequencing
Activity Sequencing involves identifying and documenting the relationships between project activities. This process determines the order in which activities need to be performed to ensure the project progresses smoothly. Dependency relationships, such as finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, and start-to-finish, are established during this process.
Example: In a software development project, activity sequencing might dictate that coding cannot begin until the design phase is complete. Similarly, testing activities must follow the coding phase. These dependencies are mapped out to create a logical flow of work.
3. Activity Duration Estimates
Activity Duration Estimates involve estimating the number of work periods required to complete individual activities. This process uses historical data, expert judgment, and other estimating techniques to determine the time required for each activity. Accurate duration estimates are crucial for developing a realistic project schedule.
Example: In an engineering project, the duration of an activity like "Design Review" might be estimated based on past projects and the complexity of the current design. If similar reviews took 5 days in the past, the estimate for the current project might be adjusted based on the current scope and team capacity.
4. Resource Availability
Resource Availability involves identifying the resources (human, material, and equipment) required for each activity and ensuring that these resources are available when needed. This process helps in avoiding delays due to resource constraints and ensures that the project schedule is feasible.
Example: For a manufacturing project, resource availability might involve ensuring that the necessary machinery and skilled labor are available for each production phase. If a key machine is scheduled for maintenance during a critical production period, the schedule might need to be adjusted to accommodate this.
5. Schedule Development Techniques
Schedule Development Techniques include various tools and methods used to create and manage the project schedule. These techniques include Gantt charts, critical path method (CPM), program evaluation and review technique (PERT), and resource leveling. Each technique helps in visualizing the project timeline, identifying critical paths, and managing resource allocation.
Example: For a construction project, a Gantt chart might be used to visualize the start and end dates of each construction activity, along with their dependencies. The critical path, which represents the longest path of dependent activities, would be highlighted to identify the key milestones and potential bottlenecks.
6. Schedule Baseline
The Schedule Baseline is the approved version of the project schedule, which serves as a reference point for measuring and controlling project progress. The Schedule Baseline is used to track actual performance against planned performance and to make necessary adjustments to keep the project on track.
Example: In a project to build a new facility, the Schedule Baseline might include the Gantt chart with all the planned start and end dates for each activity. This baseline would be used to compare against the actual progress and make any necessary adjustments to the schedule.