Baseline Management and Schedule Baselines

Baseline Management and Schedule Baselines Guide

Understanding Schedule Baselines and Baseline Management

Schedule baselines are foundational to effective project management, serving as the approved version of the project schedule that includes start dates, finish dates, and resource assignments. They represent the original plan plus any approved changes, becoming the standard against which project execution is measured.

Why Schedule Baselines Are Important:

1. Performance Measurement - Schedule baselines provide the reference point for measuring schedule performance.

2. Change Control - They create a formal process for evaluating and approving schedule modifications.

3. Stakeholder Expectations - Baselines help manage stakeholder expectations by clearly documenting agreed-upon delivery dates.

4. Historical Reference - They serve as historical data for future project planning.

5. Project Success Criteria - Baselines establish measurable criteria for project success.

How Baseline Management Works:

1. Establishing the Baseline - After the schedule is developed and approved, it becomes the initial baseline.

2. Tracking Progress - Actual performance is regularly compared to the baseline to identify variances.

3. Analyzing Variances - Differences between planned and actual performance are analyzed to determine causes and impacts.

4. Implementing Corrective Actions - When necessary, corrective actions are taken to address negative variances.

5. Managing Change Requests - Formal processes evaluate proposed changes to the baseline.

6. Updating the Baseline - When significant changes are approved, the baseline is updated to reflect the new plan.

Key Concepts to Master:

1. Schedule Baseline Components - Activities, durations, dependencies, resources, and milestone dates.

2. Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) - The integrated scope-schedule-cost baseline for measuring project performance.

3. Re-baselining Criteria - Understanding when re-baselining is appropriate versus when it may indicate poor planning.

4. Multiple Baselines - Maintaining original and current baselines to track evolution of the project plan.

5. Schedule Reserve - Contingency time built into the schedule to address known risks.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Baseline Management and Schedule Baselines

1. Remember the Purpose - When in doubt, recall that baselines exist to measure performance and control changes.

2. Identify Stakeholders - Questions may ask about who approves baseline changes (typically the Change Control Board or Project Sponsor).

3. Focus on Process - Understand the formal process for modifying baselines rather than making unauthorized adjustments.

4. Distinguish Variance Types - Know the difference between schedule variance, cost variance, and technical variance.

5. Recognize Inappropriate Practices - Be able to identify scenarios where baseline management is being misused (e.g., frequently changing baselines to hide poor performance).

6. Connect to Other Knowledge Areas - Understand how schedule baselines relate to scope, cost, risk, and quality management.

7. Apply EVM Concepts - Be familiar with Earned Value Management metrics that rely on schedule baselines (SV, SPI).

8. Look for Integration Points - Questions may test your understanding of how schedule baseline changes impact other project documents.

9. Time-phased Budgets - Understand that the schedule baseline includes time-phased budget information.

10. Change Impact Analysis - Be prepared to analyze how a proposed change might affect the baseline and project objectives.

By mastering these concepts, you'll be well-prepared to answer PMI-SP exam questions about schedule baselines and baseline management, demonstrating your understanding of these crucial project scheduling components.