Baseline schedule

Baseline Schedule - called differently as-planned schedule, illustrates the original design and the original intention to complete the design work. 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.

The date of this schedule is constant all the time, but it can be changed only in the process of changing the whole project. It is often used to explain or refuse an extension of time, which can have great financial implications. 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. 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

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.

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.

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.

Examples of Baseline schedule

• A construction firm might use a baseline schedule to track the progress of a construction project. The baseline schedule would include all the tasks, milestones, and timelines associated with the project. The firm can then use the baseline schedule to compare the actual progress of the project against the original plan.
• A software development team might use a baseline schedule to track the progress of the development project. The baseline schedule would include all the tasks, milestones, and timelines associated with the development project. The team can then use the baseline schedule to compare the actual progress of the project against the original plan.
• A business planning team might use a baseline schedule to track the progress of a business planning project. The baseline schedule would include all the tasks, milestones, and timelines associated with the project. The team can then use the baseline schedule to compare the actual progress of the project against the original plan.

Advantages of Baseline schedule

A baseline schedule is a document that illustrates the original design and the original intention to complete the design work. It provides a useful tool for measuring progress, controlling costs, and monitoring performance throughout the project. The following are some of the advantages of having a baseline schedule:

• It serves as a reference document to compare progress against the original plan. It provides a visual representation to identify any changes, delays, or cost over-runs.
• It helps to ensure that the project is proceeding along the intended timeline and according to the planned budget.
• It allows the project team to effectively manage the resources, track the progress of the project, and identify potential issues and areas of concern.
• It helps to ensure that the project is completed on time and within the allotted budget.
• It helps to identify and anticipate risks and potential problems.
• It helps to ensure that the project remains on track and that any issues are addressed in a timely manner.

Limitations of Baseline schedule

Baseline schedule is an important tool in project management that illustrates the original design and the original intention to complete the design work. However, there are certain limitations to this tool:

• It does not account for any changes that may occur after the creation of the initial schedule. As the project progresses, changes in scope, resources, and other factors may occur that affect the timeline of the project.
• Baseline schedule does not take into account any risks that may arise during the course of the project. Risk management is essential to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
• The baseline schedule does not include any contingencies for delays and other risks. It is important to consider contingencies for unexpected delays or changes to the project that may affect the timeline.
• The baseline schedule does not provide details on how the project will be monitored and evaluated. It is important to establish a system for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the project to ensure it is on track and meeting the desired goals.

Other approaches related to Baseline schedule

A baseline schedule is the original design and intention to complete the design work. There are several other approaches related to baseline scheduling, including:

• Critical Path Method (CPM): This is a method used to plan and control the sequence of activities in a project. CPM diagrams are used to identify the critical activities of the project, which are those activities that must be completed in order for the project to be successful.
• PERT Chart: A PERT chart is a graphic representation of the tasks and activities involved in a project. It helps to identify the most efficient sequence of tasks, and to identify which tasks are dependent on each other.
• Gantt Chart: A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of the planned timeline for a project. It is often used to plan and track the progress of a project, and to identify any delays or problems that may occur.
• Earned Value Analysis: Earned value analysis is a tool used to measure the progress and performance of a project. It helps to identify any potential problems before they become too costly or difficult to fix.

In summary, there are several other approaches related to baseline scheduling, such as Critical Path Method, PERT Charts, Gantt Charts, and Earned Value Analysis, that can be used to plan, track, and measure the progress of a project.

Baseline schedule — recommended articles

Arrow diagram — Critical path method — Activity network diagram — Mechanisms of control — Life cycle project management — Earned value analysis — Stages of project — Schedule variance — Work breakdown structure (WBS)

References

• Clough R., Segner R., (2015), Construction Project Management, John Wiley & Sons
• Cushman R., (2001), Construcion Disputes: Representing the Contractor, Aspen Publishers Online, New York
• Mubarak S., (2015), Construction Project Scheduling and Control, John Wiley & Sons
• Sokowski D., (2015), Mastering Project Management Integration and Scope
• Zafar Z., Rasmussen D., (2001), Baseline Schedule Approval, Cost Engineering, 8

Footnotes

Author: Klaudia Kazienko