Baseline Start Date

Test Your Knowledge

Quiz: Baseline Start Date vs. Scheduled Start Date

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. Which of the following best describes the Baseline Start Date?

a) The date a task is actually started. b) The original planned start date for a task. c) The latest possible start date for a task. d) The date a task is completed.

2. What is the primary purpose of the Scheduled Start Date?

a) To set the initial project budget. b) To track the actual progress of a task. c) To determine the project's critical path. d) To communicate the final project delivery date.

3. Why is it important to differentiate between Baseline and Scheduled Start Dates?

a) To ensure all tasks are completed on time. b) To identify potential delays and make adjustments. c) To determine the project's profitability. d) To assign tasks to specific team members.

4. What is the relationship between the Baseline Start Date and the Baseline Schedule?

a) The Baseline Start Date is a part of the Baseline Schedule. b) The Baseline Schedule is a part of the Baseline Start Date. c) They are unrelated concepts. d) The Baseline Start Date is used to create the Baseline Schedule.

5. If the Baseline Start Date for a task is July 1st, 2024, and the Scheduled Start Date is August 1st, 2024, what does this indicate?

a) The task is ahead of schedule. b) The task is on schedule. c) The task is behind schedule. d) The task has been completed.

Exercise: Project Scheduling

Scenario: You are managing a software development project. The Baseline Start Date for the project was set for January 1st, 2024. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the development team encountered delays, and the Scheduled Start Date for the first development phase has been pushed to February 15th, 2024.

Task:

1. Briefly explain the difference between the Baseline Start Date and the Scheduled Start Date in this scenario.
2. What are the implications of this delay for the project?
3. What actions can you take as a project manager to address this situation?

Techniques

Chapter 1: Techniques for Determining Baseline Start Dates

This chapter explores the various techniques used to establish a Baseline Start Date in project planning.

1.1. Forward Scheduling:

• Definition: Forward scheduling involves starting with the earliest possible start date for the project and then working forward, determining the start and end dates of each subsequent task based on its dependencies and estimated duration.
• Process:
  • Define project scope and deliverables: Clearly identify the project's objectives, deliverables, and key milestones.
  • Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS): Break down the project into smaller, manageable tasks.
  • Estimate task durations: Determine the estimated time required to complete each task.
  • Identify task dependencies: Determine the order in which tasks must be completed based on their relationships with each other.
  • Apply the forward scheduling approach: Starting with the earliest possible start date, calculate the start and end dates for each task based on its dependencies and estimated duration.

1.2. Backward Scheduling:

• Definition: Backward scheduling involves starting with the project's due date and working backward, calculating the start dates for each task based on their dependencies and estimated durations.
• Process:
  • Establish the project deadline: Determine the target completion date for the project.
  • Identify the last task: Determine the final task that must be completed before the project is considered finished.
  • Calculate the start date of the last task: Subtract the estimated duration of the last task from the project deadline to determine its start date.
  • Apply the backward scheduling approach: Work backward through the task dependencies, calculating the start dates for each task based on its predecessors and estimated duration.

1.3. Critical Path Method (CPM):

• Definition: The CPM is a network diagram technique that identifies the longest sequence of tasks in a project, known as the critical path. Tasks on the critical path have no slack or buffer time, meaning any delay in their completion will directly impact the project's overall schedule.
• Process:
  • Develop a network diagram: Illustrate the project's tasks and their dependencies using a network diagram.
  • Calculate the critical path: Determine the longest path through the network diagram, representing the sequence of tasks that have the least amount of slack.
  • Establish the Baseline Start Date: The earliest possible start date for the first task on the critical path becomes the Baseline Start Date for the project.

1.4. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT):

• Definition: PERT is a probabilistic scheduling technique that considers the uncertainty of task durations by using three time estimates: optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely.
• Process:
  • Gather time estimates for each task: Obtain optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely time estimates from experts.
  • Calculate the expected task duration: Use a weighted average formula to calculate the expected duration of each task based on the three time estimates.
  • Develop a network diagram: Illustrate the project's tasks and their dependencies using a network diagram.
  • Calculate the critical path: Determine the longest path through the network diagram, representing the sequence of tasks that have the least amount of slack.
  • Establish the Baseline Start Date: The earliest possible start date for the first task on the critical path becomes the Baseline Start Date for the project.

1.5. Conclusion:

Choosing the right technique for determining the Baseline Start Date depends on the project's complexity, level of uncertainty, and available resources. Each method offers its own advantages and disadvantages, and project managers must select the approach that best suits their specific needs.