--- title: "Schedule development and control" subject: "ICT Project Management" chapter: 8 key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:schedule-development-control" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/schedule-development-control site: BCT Engineering --- # Schedule development and control ICT Project Management · Chapter 8: Project Time Management - Asked in: year not given - Video: [What is Project Planning and Scheduling? | Key Scheduling Techniques Explained](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZHpJaoWgLE) — projectcubicle - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/schedule-development-control - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-8 ## Question What do you mean by schedule development and control? ## Short answer Schedule development creates the project schedule by analyzing sequences, durations, resources, and constraints using CPM and compression. Schedule control monitors actual progress, compares to baseline, analyzes variances, and implements corrective actions like crashing or fast-tracking to manage changes. ## Answer **Schedule development** is the process of analysing activity sequences, durations, resource requirements and schedule constraints to create the project schedule model. **Schedule control** is monitoring the status of the project to update progress and managing changes to the schedule baseline. Both belong to the Project Time Management knowledge area. #### Schedule development Inputs: activity list, sequence, resource requirements, duration estimates, constraints, calendars. Tools and techniques: - **Network diagram analysis and Critical Path Method**: forward and backward pass to find ES, EF, LS, LF, float. - **Critical chain method**: add buffers for resource constraints. - **Resource levelling and smoothing**. - **What-if analysis and simulation (Monte Carlo)**. - **Schedule compression**: crashing (add resources, more cost) and fast tracking (do activities in parallel, more risk). - **Leads and lags**, scheduling software. Outputs: project schedule (Gantt chart, milestone chart, network diagram), schedule baseline, schedule data, updated calendars. #### Schedule control Concerned with determining current status, influencing factors that cause change, determining that the schedule has changed and managing the changes. Tools: performance reviews, variance analysis, trend analysis, earned value (SPI = EV/PV), what-if analysis, resource levelling, schedule compression, progress reports. Outputs: work performance measures, change requests, updates to the schedule baseline and plan. ```text Activities + durations + resources -> CPM / Gantt -> Baseline schedule -> Track actuals -> Variance -> Corrective action ``` #### Control steps 1. Measure actual progress. 2. Compare with baseline. 3. Analyse variances. 4. Decide on corrective actions (crash, fast track, re-sequence). 5. Process changes through change control and update the schedule. **Example:** If testing slips by 5 days, the manager fast-tracks documentation in parallel and adds one tester to recover. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the difference between crashing and fast tracking? A. Both only remove float B. Crashing adds resources at more cost; fast tracking does activities in parallel with more risk C. Both reduce scope D. Crashing does activities in parallel; fast tracking adds resources Answer: B. Crashing adds resources (cost); fast tracking overlaps activities (risk). (Key point: Schedule compression) 2. What is schedule control? A. Creating the WBS B. Estimating project cost C. Writing the charter D. Monitoring status to update progress and manage changes to the schedule baseline Answer: D. Schedule control monitors progress against baseline and manages changes. (Key point: Schedule control) 3. How is SPI calculated and what does a value below 1 mean? A. EV/AC; behind schedule B. EV/PV; behind schedule C. PV/EV; ahead of schedule D. EV/PV; ahead of schedule Answer: B. SPI = EV/PV; below 1 means progress is less than planned. (Key point: SPI) 4. Which is the correct order of schedule control steps? A. Measure actual progress, compare with baseline, analyse variances, decide corrective action, process changes B. Update baseline, then measure progress C. Analyse variances before any progress is measured D. Decide corrective action, measure progress, compare, analyse Answer: A. Control proceeds from measuring to comparing, analysing, correcting and processing changes through change control. (Key point: Control steps) ## Related in ICT Project Management - [Project development life cycle phases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-development-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 1 - [System development methodologies](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Asystem-development-methodologies) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [System development life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Asdlc) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [Integrated change control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aintegrated-change-control) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7 - [Project scope control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-scope-control) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7 - [Control charts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Acontrol-charts) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10 ## Related in other subjects - [Monitoring and quality, cost, schedule control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-quality-cost-schedule-control) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Schedule control and schedule control cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aschedule-control-cycle) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Crest, average and schedule speed; speed-time curve](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Futilization_of_electrical_energy%3Acrest-average-schedule-speed-42kmph) — Utilization of Electrical Energy, chapter 4 - [Biogas plants under Clean Development Mechanism](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Abiogas-cdm-ghg) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1, asked 2×