Process: Develop Schedule
Process Group: Planning
Knowledge Area: Project Schedule Management
Purpose
The Develop Schedule process involves analyzing activity sequences, durations, resource requirements, and constraints to create a detailed project schedule. It results in a time-based plan used to guide execution and monitor progress, and it forms part of the project’s schedule baseline.
Inputs
- Project Management Plan – Includes the schedule management plan, scope baseline, and other supporting plans (e.g., cost, resource).
- Project Documents – Activity list, attributes, duration estimates, resource calendars, risk register, and assumptions log.
- Agreements – Contractual delivery dates or milestones.
- Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs) – Organizational scheduling systems, calendars, and labor rules.
- Organizational Process Assets (OPAs) – Templates, scheduling tools, and historical project data.
Tools and Techniques
- Schedule Network Analysis – Evaluation of the logical relationships and flow of activities.
- Critical Path Method (CPM) – Identifies the longest sequence of activities that determines the project duration.
- Resource Optimization – Includes resource leveling and resource smoothing to resolve conflicts or maximize efficiency.
- What-If Scenario Analysis – Explores the impact of different assumptions or constraints.
- Leads and Lags – Adjustments applied to dependencies to optimize flow.
- Schedule Compression – Techniques like crashing and fast tracking to shorten the schedule.
- Project Management Information System (PMIS) – Software used to build, track, and update the schedule.
- Agile Release Planning – For adaptive projects, aligns incremental deliverables to a high-level timeline.
Outputs
- Schedule Baseline – The approved version of the schedule used to measure performance.
- Project Schedule – A detailed timeline (bar charts, milestone charts, network diagrams) showing when project activities will occur.
- Schedule Data – Includes activity start/finish dates, float, resource needs, and assumptions.
- Project Calendars – Specifies working days and hours for scheduling.
- Change Requests – If planning reveals scope, resource, or timing issues requiring updates.
- Project Management Plan Updates – Especially to the schedule management plan and other affected components.
- Project Document Updates – Updates to activity data, assumptions, and risks.
Role in the Process Group and Knowledge Area
- As part of the Planning Process Group, Develop Schedule consolidates the results of earlier processes (Define Activities, Sequence Activities, Estimate Durations) into a usable schedule.
- Within Project Schedule Management, it establishes the baseline and timeline that guides and controls project execution.
Why It Matters
- Defines the Timeline – Sets expectations for when work will be completed.
- Enables Tracking – Provides the reference point for measuring schedule performance.
- Reveals the Critical Path – Highlights which activities affect the project’s end date.
- Informs Resource Decisions – Helps align availability and demand for team members and assets.