Schedule Baseline

A schedule baseline is a snapshot of the schedule model once it has been agreed. It records start and finish dates for activities and milestones. Teams update the working schedule as the project progresses, but the baseline stays fixed so that variance can be seen. Rebaselining is sometimes necessary, for example after an approved scope change. When it happens it should be recorded with the reason, so that history is not rewritten to hide slippage. Example: A building project baselines a finish date of 30 June. Midway, a client-approved design change adds three weeks. The change is approved, the schedule is rebaselined to 21 July and the change log records why. Without that record, later reports would appear to show the project on time when it had moved. Without a baseline you cannot measure delay, calculate schedule variance or hold anyone to account for forecasts. Good baselines are realistic, agreed and controlled.