Manage the project schedule

- [Voiceover] You have to look at the project schedule from several angles to uncover problems and figure out what to do about them. First, compare the current schedule to your baseline plan. A Gantt chart can help you see whether tasks are ahead of, behind, or right on schedule, and by how much. For example, you can show your baseline schedule with bars in one color, and your current schedule with another color. Variance values on the other hand, tell you the exact difference between your baseline and your current schedule.

Homing in on problem tasks helps you identify where you need to make changes to keep the schedule on track. If you use a scheduling program, there are often filters and views that provide early warnings of delays. For example, incomplete tasks that are running late, tasks that should've started, but haven't, or tasks that haven't completed as much work as planned. As you manage the schedule, you'll also spend time managing resources and any contracts you signed to obtain them.

For example, perhaps a resource won't be available on the day their task is supposed to start. That could trigger a penalty the vendor has to pay. Examining the project schedule helps you see whether your project is running into trouble, and identify possible solutions if it is. To learn more about keeping your project schedule on track, see my course, Managing Project Schedules.