The Goal of the Schedule Development Process

I’ve used terms such as “realistic” and “well-developed” to describe the type of project schedule we want to develop. Before we continue, let’s clarify what the goal of the schedule development process should be. The schedule development process should generate a project schedule that meets the following criteria:

• Complete—The schedule must represent all the work to be done. This is why the quality and completeness of the WBS is so important.
• Realistic—The schedule must be realistic with regard to time expectations.
• Accepted—The schedule must have buy-in from team members and stakeholders.
• Formal—The schedule must be documented and formalized.

After reviewing this list, you probably see why so many projects are troubled from the start. Although there are many factors that can adversely affect project performance and cause us to replan, reschedule, or take corrective actions, an improper schedule should not be one of them. Of course, by understanding the lessons discussed in this chapter and in this book, you will be well on your way to developing solid project schedules every time.