Diploma in Project Management: Schedule Development

Learn about the Schedule Development in the Diploma in Project Management Qualification.
Creating the project schedule is part of the planning process group. It is calendar-based and relies on both the project network diagram and the accuracy of time estimates. Project schedule development, an iterative process, determines planned start and finish dates for project activities. Schedule development can require that duration estimates and resource estimates are reviewed and revised to create an approved project schedule that can serve as a baseline against which progress can be tracked. Schedule development continues throughout the project as work progresses, the project management plan changes, and anticipated risk events occur or disappear as new risks are identified. Schedule Development: Inputs Organisational Process Assets. The organisational process assets of the performing organisation may have some asset items that can be used in Schedule Development, such as a project calendar (a calendar of working days or shifts that establishes dates on which schedule activities are worked, and nonworking days on which schedule activities are idle). Project Scope Statement. The project scope statement contains assumptions and constraints that can impact the development of the project schedule. Assumptions are those documented schedule-related factors that, for schedule development purposes, are considered to be true, real, or certain. Constraints are factors that will limit the project management teams options when performing schedule network analysis. There are three major categories of time constraints considered during schedule development:

Imposed dates on activity starts or finishes can be used to restrict the start or finish to occur either no earlier than a specified date or no later than a specified date. While several constraints are typically available in project management software, the Start No Earlier Than and the Finish No Later Than constraints are the most commonly used. Date constraints include such situations as agreed-upon contract dates, a market window on a technology project, weather restrictions on outdoor activities, governmentmandated compliance with environmental remediation, and delivery of materiel from parties not represented in the project schedule. The project sponsor, project customer, or other stakeholders often dictate key events or major milestones affecting the completion of certain deliverables by a specified date.

Once scheduled, these dates become expected and can be moved only through approved changes. Milestones can also be used to indicate interfaces with work outside of the project. Such work is typically not in the project database and milestones with constraint dates can provide the appropriate schedule interface.

Activity List. The activity list is a comprehensive list including all schedule activities that are planned to be performed on the project. Activity Attributes. Activity attributes identify the multiple attributes associated with each schedule activity. (See section relating to Activity Definition: Outputs for a more detailed description). Project Schedule Network Diagrams. Project schedule network diagrams are schematic displays of the projects schedule activities and the logical relationship among them. (See section relating to Activity Sequencing: Outputs for a more detailed description). Activity Resource Requirements. This refers to the identification and description of the types and quantities of resources required for each schedule activity in a work package. (See section relating to Activity Resource Estimating: Outputs for a more detailed description). Resource Calendars. This details the dates on which specific resources are available and whether they are active or idle. (See section relating to Activity Resource Estimating: Outputs for a more detailed description). Activity Duration Estimates. These are quantitative assessments of the likely number of work periods that will be required to complete a schedule activity. (See section relating to Activity Duration Estimating: Outputs for a more detailed description). Project Management Plan. The project management plan contains the schedule management plan, cost management plan, project scope management plan, and risk management plan. These plans guide the schedule development, as well as components that directly support the Schedule Development process. One such component is the risk register.

Risk Register. The risk register identifies the project risks and associated risk response plans that are needed to support the Schedule Development process.

LMITs Diploma in Project Management is Now Endorsed by AIPM Get Your Diploma of PM and Youll Also Receive a Certificate from AIPM. LMIT provides online training courses for the Cert IV Project Management BSB41507, the Certificate IV of Project Management and the Diploma of Project Management BSB51407 in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.