Fundamentals of master scheduling for the project manager

One of the project manager's primary responsibilities is scheduling the activities and resources needed to most effectively and efficiently accomplish a project's objectives. And one tool that has proven most formidable in helping project managers perform this responsibility is the project master schedule. This article explores the dynamics of project schedules. In doing so, it explains the process of preparing the master schedule, lists the seven major characteristics of effective master schedules, and details the seven steps to developing a master schedule, steps that include clarifying a project's objectives, breaking down project work, sequencing work activities, estimating activity durations and costs, reconciling master schedule with time constraints, reconciling schedule with available resources, and reviewing the schedule.