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schedule baseline vs critical path

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ABUBAKAR GIMBA KHALID Head of Quality and Research| Urban Shelter Ltd Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
what's the difference between the schedule baseline and the critical path
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Abubakar -

The schedule baseline represents a snapshot of (usually) an approved project schedule. It is used as the basis for performance assessment and reporting. Over the life of the project, the start and end dates of individual activities might change, but the baseline should not be updated until a formal change is accepted at which time a new baseline snapshot can be taken.

The critical path represents the longest sequential path of activities from the start of your project to the end, which also defines the shortest duration in which the project could be completed.

To understand the relationship between the two, the schedule end date from your baseline is defined by the critical path.

Kiron
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1 reply by Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
Mar 15, 2021 10:46 AM
Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
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Kiron responded like the pro that he is... Thanks sir
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Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany
Abubakar,

Kiron has it right.

The schedule baseline contains all planned schedule information you want to measure your schedule progress against. Could be as simple as a list of milestones, and may or may not include a critical path.

The critical path is a result if you use the scheduling method CPM (critical path method - hic). Other scheduling methods might not have a critical path (e.g. CCM, MTA, Scrum/time boxing). The critical path itself often is just a snapshot and might change as the project progresses, just as actual durations are added to the schedule model, risks mitigations may change dependencies, or resources are shifted.

Thomas
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
From the PMI´s Lexicon of Terms:
Critical Path. The sequence of activities that represents the longest path through a project, which determines the shortest possible duration.
Schedule Baseline. The approved version of a schedule model that can be changed using formal change control procedures and is used as the basis for comparison to actual results.
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Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
Community Champion
Financial Management Specialist | US Peace Corps Yaounde, Centre, Cameroon
Mar 14, 2021 9:28 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Abubakar -

The schedule baseline represents a snapshot of (usually) an approved project schedule. It is used as the basis for performance assessment and reporting. Over the life of the project, the start and end dates of individual activities might change, but the baseline should not be updated until a formal change is accepted at which time a new baseline snapshot can be taken.

The critical path represents the longest sequential path of activities from the start of your project to the end, which also defines the shortest duration in which the project could be completed.

To understand the relationship between the two, the schedule end date from your baseline is defined by the critical path.

Kiron
Kiron responded like the pro that he is... Thanks sir
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Bernard Rollins Newark, Nj, United States
Kiron I support your comparison. The Charter defines expectation base on a time line, cost and scope which can be followed through the critical path which is establish to meet schedule baseline, and can only change if a change request is made through change control.

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