Schedule Management Plan
The schedule management plan defines how the project schedule will be developed, monitored, and controlled. It includes:
- Scheduling methodology and tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera).
- Units of measure (e.g., days, weeks).
- Control thresholds (e.g., ±10% variance).
- Rules for performance measurement (e.g., earned value management).
Key Processes
According to PMBOK, schedule management involves:
- Define Activities: Break down work packages into activities.
- Sequence Activities: Determine dependencies (e.g., finish-to-start).
- Estimate Activity Durations: Use techniques like three-point estimating.
- Develop Schedule: Create the schedule model using critical path method.
- Control Schedule: Monitor and adjust the schedule as needed.
Example
For a software project, activities might include "Design Database" (5 days), followed by "Develop API" (10 days, dependent on database design). The schedule management plan ensures these are sequenced and tracked properly.