![Productcard Projectsprogrammesportfolios Resources Whatisprogrammemanagement 1920X1080](/v2/media/jluobmcp/productcard-projectsprogrammesportfolios-resources-whatisprogrammemanagement-1920x1080.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133125657236600000)
What is scheduling in project management?
Definition
A schedule is a timetable showing the forecast start and finish dates for activities or events within a project, programme or portfolio.
When a project manager has defined the scope of the project (the work that needs to be completed), understands quality requirements and risks, and has estimates of activity duration's in place, the next step is to put together a schedule (Starting out in project management, 3rd edition).
Definition from APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition
![Featuredarticle Whatispmwhatisgovernance 1000X1000](/v2/media/i4jnlqwp/featuredarticle-whatispmwhatisgovernance-1000x1000.jpg)
Time scheduling
Time scheduling is a collection of techniques used to develop and present schedules that show when work will be performed. The results of all these techniques are usually presented as activities or bars on a timeline, known as a Gantt chart.
Understanding scheduling involves learning the terminology associated with critical path analysis – the main technique associated with scheduling Starting out in project management, 3rd edition.
Scheduling comes into project planning and there are principally two types of scheduling: critical path and critical chain.
Critical path
The critical path approach places emphasis on the activities in a project and understanding the shortest time to complete all activities in a logical order. It is a sequence of activities through a precedence network from start to finish, the sum of whose durations determines the overall duration.
Critical path analysis is an activity- based scheduling technique that determines the overall duration of the identified work based on estimates and logical dependencies.
It is the method of determining the critical path. Critical path analysis is almost exclusively performed using desktop scheduling software, although it is a key skill for project professionals to understand how this is done so they can verify that the project schedule is built on complete and defensible logic.
The purpose of a project manager understanding a project’s critical path(s) is to be able to focus effort in managing the activities that lie on it with the knowledge that if all of them complete on time, and if there is no slippage on other activities that exceeds the total float, the whole project will finish on time.
Critical chain
The critical chain is resource based approach to scheduling, useful when time is critical. It is derived from the critical path that protects critical chains of activities with buffers. The critical chain approach attempts to keep resources at a constant utilisation, avoiding common working practices such as:
- multitasking between activities;
- not starting planned work at the earliest start date and committing time until it is finished.
Both these practices result in any float (time contingency) in the estimate being lost to the overall project.
Watch: What is scheduling?
Related reading
![Productcard Projectsprogrammesportfolios Resources Whatisprogrammemanagement 1920X1080](/v2/media/jluobmcp/productcard-projectsprogrammesportfolios-resources-whatisprogrammemanagement-1920x1080.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133125657236600000)
![A train moving quickly through an underground tunnel](/v2/media/m4clncqe/pmanintroduction-resources-whatispm-1920x1080-2.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133693236254770000)
![Individual with a tablet interacts with a robot](/v2/media/b52lb3se/productpanelhowtonailyourbusinesscase-whatispmwhatisabusinesscase-1920x1080.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133693230264030000)
![Silhouetted construction workers collaborating at sunset](/v2/media/jdzp1zdj/requirements-resources-whatispm-1920x1080-3.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133693237604170000)
APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition
The APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition is a foundational resource providing the concepts, functions and activities that make up professional project management. It reflects the developing profession, recognising project-based working at all levels, and across all sectors for influencers, decision makers, project professionals and their teams.
![A book titled APM Body of Knowledge placed on an office desk](/v2/media/l3xodai2/bok7-coffeetableimage-1920x1080-4.png)
You may also be interested in
![Laptop screen showing the APM Learning dashboard](/v2/media/hb2j3o4f/productcardapmlearning-whatisabusinesscase-600x400-1.png?center=0.68354960695897593,0.4042497675563837&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133458311093400000)
The APM Learning portal is an online resource which provides members with access to digital guides, modules and other digital learning resources as part of the membership benefit.
![Man wearing headphones using a tablet whilst sat on the sofa](/v2/media/3qbmevjs/productcardwhatis-whatispmwhatisabusinesscase-1920x1080-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133681253518600000)
Browse our popular project management 'What is ...?' topics for definitions, quick insights, view related case studies, research, blogs and glossary.
![A magazine spread featuring a vibrant photo of diverse individuals engaging on a lively city street.](/v2/media/2htfyvv1/productcardprojectjournal-whatisabusinesscase-600x400-1.png?center=0.56778717352237518,0.23152486687320156&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133681255165370000)
Project – APM's official journal – is circulated quarterly for members only, and online for regularly updated news, blogs, opinions and insights for those in the project community.
![A woman engaged with her laptop, accessing a website while seated at a desk in a well-lit environment.](/v2/media/njdnvnb1/member-benefits-apm-community-2-600x400-1.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=340&height=204&rnd=133681255974100000)
The APM Community is our online community platform that connects our members faster and easier than ever before.