Baseline schedule

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Baseline schedule
See also

Baseline Schedule - called differently as-planned schedule, illustrates the original design and the original intention to complete the design work[1]. The Baseline Schedule covers the entire project, which includes work commissioned to contractors providing a preview of the scope of the project. This is the final schedule of a given project, which includes the start date, intermediate stages, and end date. This schedule is approved and accepted by all related parties and frozen on a specific date[2].

The date of this schedule is constant all the time, but it can be changed only in the process of changing the whole project[3]. It is often used to explain or refuse an extension of time, which can have great financial implications[4]. The Baseline Schedule is needed to determine the status of completed work compared to the original plan and to compare planned and real progress of project tasks.

Establishment of Baseline Schedule

The Baseline schedule is set by all parties involved in this project that they have previously arranged and approved as final. This project must have a schedule prepared and approved[5]. The contractor and owner must specify the format of the schedule before starting work so that it is easier for the owner to review the plan after the changes in the project have started. The baseline schedule is the basis for assessing all progress and changes assumed in the project[6]

After starting work, the baseline schedule acts as the project schedule. It is updated from time to time to see where the work is. Thanks to the update, it is possible to change part of the project based on the current status of work.

Preparation of Baseline Schedule

The first step in preparing the schedule is to define the actions needed to complete the work as planned. The duration of work and the subcontractor's contribution should be included. The next step is to determine the links between activities, so which activities must be started first, what activities must be performed simultaneously, which activities must be completed for others to be started. The next step is to determine the amount of time you need to spend on completing the activity. Now you can use computer programs that allow you to manage the duration of specific activities. Consideration should be given to factors affecting duration: weather, available employees, equipment and materials[7].

Baseline Scheduling Requirements

It is to approve the baseline schedule within 30 days of receiving the continuation notice. Some agencies do this only before issuing a continuation notice of up to 30 days. It is important to do this as early as possible, because the agencies have classified losses if the schedule has not been approved within the set deadline. Each agency has different requirements, so the schedule approval rules will be different. These rules will change depending on the project. Agencies may require the schedule to include a workflow with its duration or may require reports and information on costs and resources[8].

The agency can reject the schedule. Here are some reasons for giving up:

  • illogical assumptions,
  • inappropriate float control technique used,
  • flow of work not per contract documents.

References

Footnotes

  1. Segner R., Clough R., (2015), page 215
  2. Sokowski Dietmar,(2015), page 147
  3. Sokowski Dietmar, (2015), page 147
  4. Zafar Z., Rasmussen D., (2001), page 1
  5. Sokowski Dietmar, (2015), page 147
  6. Segner R., Clough R., (2015), page 215
  7. Cushman F., (2001), page 530
  8. Zafar Z., Rasmussen D., (2001), page 1

Author: Klaudia Kazienko