Measuring progress from the baseline

You shall consider Early and Late dates from both, the Baseline and the Current update. Just look at the following figure the point at Data Date is in between baseline Early and Late dates but there is a projected cost and finish overrun.

The progress S curves are just a summary that will not tell you much of why the delay but no doubt an early warning tool if used properly. If the projected values after DD for current update are not shown it is useless.

I value the S curves for what they are, a very important summary of the projection at DD, an early warning.

I do not care much at the DD point but at the Baseline vs Update finish date and costs.

Note that costs might represent cost to Owner or Schedule of Values or it might be costs to Contractor, usually considered confidential data. When it represent Schedule of Values usually there is no difference in cost projection but the Project Delay will be shown.

Remember that same as Updates the Baseline is not static, it shall be updated to represent latest contractual costs and dates. If the project started late most probably re-baselining is in order.

in layman's term please

thanks

John

John,

Let me tell you briefly.add following column in your activity table

1.BL1 Start (If you have 1 Base Line) 

2.BL1 Finish

3.Start (Default Column)

4.Finish(Default Column)

it will give you the required results :P

Higher management needs a summary for each job not just a detailed table showing multiple column values and hundreds or thousand activity lines.

The famous S  curve is one of the basic summary methods available for this purpose, is a Classic. It is by itself not enough so some explanation of why the over/under runs must be included within your top management report.

In addition to the S Curves and your comments a group of summary bars per job would be in order. The detailed reports would be supplied as supporting documents.

You might include detailed job reports for the record, in case someone is interested into the details. You can display Update Bars along Baseline Bars showing Early and Late Bars on summary reports as well as on detailed reports. It depends on the top management preferences.

Mine would be, give me the summary reports and by exception, if there is something we want to get into the details I will look at the details. The displaying of Early and Late Baseline Summary Bars along with Early and Late Bars for latest Summary Update is what I would look after the S curves.

A well designed WBS structure standard that meets the upper management needs as well as the lower levels will help you get the detailed as well as the summary reports at a click of the mouse.

Note: Displaying Early and Late Bars is not the same as displaying Early Bar and Float Bar, they are similar but the display of Late Bar shows more than the display of Float Bar as it also shows Late Start.