John BaconProject Manager /Agile Product Owner| Not DisclosedFl, United States
I'm developing a schedule management plan for my project and my organizations PM maturity level is still at an Ad-Hoc level. In the schedule management plan in the schedule changes section, I'm trying to come up with the events or conditions that would prompt a schedule to have to be rebaselined. A couple thoughts I had were:
1. If an approved change request results in an increase or decrease in overall schedule duration by 10% or more.
2. If the Duration Variance (Difference between Baseline Duration and Actual Duration) for the overall project reaches 15%, likely because many of the tasks are finishing behind schedule
What other criteria might I include that would require rebaselining a project schedule? Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Aug 10, 2022 7:44 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Page 210 of the Sixth Edition of the PMBOK Guide covers both the conditions I'd mentioned in my original response.
Kiron
Sorry Kiron,
could not find the language you refer to in PMBoK 6th. Page 210 refers to CPM and says nothing about baselining, but I also scanned the rest.
Certainly it depends on what the organisation wants (if they want anything about scheduling). For me the primary purpose of a schedule is communication and since we have different stakeholders with different communication needs, we have different representations of the schedule, all based on the same schedule model which is baselined (not a schedule is baselined).
So, I can define when deviations should lead to changes, but nevertheless when communicating to the team at work, I probably do not show them 2 years of activities, or slipped or original start dates but the next 3 months of actual planned dates, as I expect them to meet them. KISS. (Gets even more stressful for them when I use CCM techniques). When communicating to the sponsor, I do not show them variations of all task start/end dates but the milestones, both planned and actual, and which of the next ones bear a risk. And yes, the 2 year GANTT chart on 1 page , to remind them about what the project is about (they might sponsor 10+ projects and do operations, after all). When reality (actuals) deviates too far from the plan, I tend to reduce complexity by introducing re-baselining. New stuff comes up all the times, estimates show up too optimistic, team members change ... it is not hard to find reasons for a change.
I have no emotional attachment to the original baseline. It is faulty anyhow and should not create additional obstacles. Yes, if shifting the deadline becomes necessary, too many stakeholders are affected, and other options should be considered. I found massaging the scope and quality easiest and most common.
Thomas Saving Changes...
Peter HottensteinSr. Project Manager| WellMedSan Antonio, Tx, United States
Make sure baselines aren’t being created until the planning phase is complete in waterfall otherwise rebase lines are almost guaranteed. Saving Changes...
I had provided the PDF document page number. The PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition book page number is 171.
For the benefit of others, the passage reads:
"Changes to the schedule baseline are incorporated in response to approved changes in scope, resources, or schedule estimates. In some cases, schedule variances can be so severe that a revised schedule baseline is needed to provide a realistic basis for performance measurement."
Kiron
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1 reply by Thomas Walenta
Aug 11, 2022 12:36 AM
Thomas Walenta
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Thanks Kiron
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Aug 10, 2022 5:40 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Sorry Thomas -
I had provided the PDF document page number. The PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition book page number is 171.
For the benefit of others, the passage reads:
"Changes to the schedule baseline are incorporated in response to approved changes in scope, resources, or schedule estimates. In some cases, schedule variances can be so severe that a revised schedule baseline is needed to provide a realistic basis for performance measurement."
Baselines are more than just different versions of your schedule. A baseline contains all your project plan artefacts: WBS, budget, schedule, risk register, ... Saving Changes...
Mohammed AlansiPMO director | Citratop construction & consultantSanaa, Sn, Yemen
Aug 09, 2022 9:40 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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John -
By the book, the only time you'd re-baseline is if there is an approved change which impacts key milestones or the project end date. A variance (regardless of its magnitude) should not result in a baseline change, otherwise your actuals will always match your (approved) plan!
From a reality perspective, I have worked for organizations where their governance bodies elected to authorize re-baselining once a variance was unrecoverable.
Kiron
I also do agree with Kiron Saving Changes...
Latha Thamma reddiSr Product and Portfolio Management (Automation Innovation)| DXC TechnologyMckinney, Tx, United States
Schedule rebaselining is the process of updating the project schedule to reflect changes in project scope, timeline, resources, or other factors that impact the project plan. Here are some common criteria for when schedule rebaselining may be required:
Changes in project scope: If there are changes in the project's goals, objectives, or requirements, the project schedule may need to be rebaselined to reflect these changes. This could include adding or removing tasks, changing the sequence of activities, or adjusting resource allocation.
Schedule delays: If the project falls behind schedule due to unforeseen events or issues, rebaselining may be necessary to adjust the project plan and ensure that the project can be completed within the required timeline.
Resource constraints: If there are changes in resource availability, such as a key team member becoming unavailable or a change in budget, the project schedule may need to be adjusted to accommodate these changes.
Risk management: If significant project risks are identified that were not accounted for in the original project plan, rebaselining may be necessary to adjust the project timeline or resources to mitigate these risks.
Changes in organizational priorities: If there are changes in the overall strategic goals or priorities of the organization, the project schedule may need to be rebaselined to align with these changes.
In general, any significant changes that impact the project's scope, timeline, or resources may require schedule rebaselining to ensure that the project plan remains realistic, achievable, and aligned with the project objectives. It is important for project managers to monitor the project's progress regularly and be prepared to make adjustments as needed to keep the project on track. Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
"...make adjustments as needed to keep the project on track." is not keeping the project on track - its changing the track to reflect the project. To me the baseline is the schedule that was agreed to in the Project Charter. That doesn't mean you don't adjust the schedule, its just not the baseline. At the end of the day you can compare the actual with the initial baseline and detail all the reasons why there is deviation: changes in scope; unforeseen events; resource constraints; unidentified risk events; changes in priorities; poor planning assumptions; etc.
Note that when these reasons occur the first order of the day is a recovery plan not a rebaselining effort. Saving Changes...
Francisco MasbadProject, Field Control Management | Site, Construction Management| EPC Japanese FirmMakuhari-Hongo, Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba City Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Aug 09, 2022 9:40 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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John -
By the book, the only time you'd re-baseline is if there is an approved change which impacts key milestones or the project end date. A variance (regardless of its magnitude) should not result in a baseline change, otherwise your actuals will always match your (approved) plan!
From a reality perspective, I have worked for organizations where their governance bodies elected to authorize re-baselining once a variance was unrecoverable.
Kiron
Good day! Yes, I do agree with Kiron. From a reality perspective, that's one of the reasons why Subcontractors claimed from main Contractor the construction compensation/ damages due to re-baselining. I have worked for EPC Contractor, the PMT decided to re-baseline 6 times. The Subcontractor claimed 6 times accordingly. It's a good lesson learnt. Saving Changes...
M. Hosney AbdelgelilVice President - Regional Texas & Louisiana CMPM Leader| WSPHouston, Tx, United States
Greetings y'all. I am in a serious debate with a contractor that his baseline schedule should match exactly the time stipulated in the contract. The contractor said he can finish the project in less time than the contract and I advised him to comply with the contract for the Baseline and then logically provide for an earlier date if he wishes.
I am reluctant to approve a baseline that is shorter than the contract duration in worries over future disputes. Any one had a similar situation and maybe wrote a disclaimer for the approval under this premis?
Thanks in advance.
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1 reply by Peter Rapin
Jul 31, 2024 5:48 PM
Peter Rapin
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There is some confusion as to the purpose of the baseline schedule. The contractor's baseline represents what he wishes to accomplish in order to maximize his profit or benefit from delivering the project. I am assuming here that he is on some sort of lump sum/fixed price contract won as a result of a tendering competition.
His baseline schedule is not necessarily the schedule defined in the contract (contract schedule) nor does it become the contract schedule. You need to look at the contractor's schedule to see if there are any issues related to you delivering access to the site or coordination issues with operations and other stakeholders. If his schedule makes demands (or constraints) that you can't accept or meet then you go back to the contract schedule to try and resolve. With that being said it behooves you to accommodate the contractor to "avoid future disputes".
I don't understand your need to approve his baseline schedule other than for the concerns noted in the previous paragraph.
My response would be to insist he identifies the coordination issues, define where his changes may affect the other stakeholders and advise that the conditions and constraints of the contract remain enforceable.
As a further note if you "approve" the contractor's submitted schedule you may be accepting unnecessary risk.
