A structured approach to schedule development and use

Project managers often lack a structured approach for developing and using project schedules. This article outlines a systemic methodology for managing complex project schedules, a methodology that includes exception reporting and multiple hierarchical structures. In doing so, it defines the purpose of this methodology and details the activities involved in using it to develop project schedules--activities that include developing networks, classifying activities, quantifying work, identifying variances--and the activities involved in using it to implement phase operations, activities that include measuring performance, updating the network, analyzing the critical path, revising the work breakdown structure.