---
title: "Schedule control and schedule control cycle"
subject: "Project Engineering"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_7/project_engineering:schedule-control-cycle"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/schedule-control-cycle
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Schedule control and schedule control cycle

Project Engineering · Chapter 4: Project Implementation and Controlling

- Asked in: 2078 Bhadra, 6 marks
- Video: [6.6 Control Schedule | PMBOK Video Course](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUsUo6CtHZE) — David McLachlan
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/schedule-control-cycle
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-4

## Question

Define project schedule control. Explain the schedule control cycle. How can a project be kept on schedule? Explain.

## Short answer

Schedule control monitors actual progress against the baseline, finds delay causes, and takes corrective action. The cycle is baseline, record progress, compare using SV/SPI/float, analyse delays, take corrective action, update and report. Keep on schedule by realistic planning, prioritizing critical activities, regular meetings, crashing, fast-tracking, and controlling changes.

## Answer

#### Project schedule control

**Schedule control** is the process of monitoring the actual progress of the project, comparing it with the baseline schedule, finding the causes of any delay and taking corrective action (or making approved changes) so that the project is completed on the planned date.

#### Schedule control cycle

```text
+-----------------+   +------------------+
| Baseline        |-->| Record actual    |
| schedule        |   | progress         |
+--------^--------+   +---------+--------+
         |                      v
+--------+--------+   +------------------+
| Update schedule |   | Compare with plan|
| and report      |   | (SV, SPI, float) |
+--------^--------+   +---------+--------+
         |                      v
+--------+--------+   +------------------+
| Corrective      |<--| Analyse delay,   |
| action          |   | critical path    |
+-----------------+   +------------------+
```

1. **Baseline schedule:** the approved bar chart or network with milestones.
2. **Record actual progress:** percent complete and the actual start/finish of each activity.
3. **Compare** with the plan: bar chart, S-curve, schedule variance $SV = EV - PV$, $SPI = EV/PV$, float used.
4. **Analyse:** which activities are delayed, whether they are critical, and the effect on completion; forecast the new date.
5. **Corrective action:** see below.
6. **Update and report** the schedule; repeat at the next review.

#### How to keep the project on schedule

- Make a realistic plan, with the critical path and float known.
- Arrange materials, equipment, drawings, land and payments in advance.
- Give critical activities priority for resources, and monitor them daily.
- Hold regular progress meetings and take quick decisions.
- If delayed: add labour or equipment, work overtime or extra shifts (**crashing**), do activities in parallel (**fast-tracking**), change the method or logic, or use the float of non-critical work.
- Control changes and variation orders; manage risks (weather, strikes) with contingency.
- Use incentives for early completion and penalties for delay in the contract.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is schedule control?
   A. Recording quality
   B. Monitoring actual progress against the baseline, finding delay causes and taking corrective action to finish on time
   C. Estimating cost
   D. Only drawing the bar chart
   Answer: B. Schedule control compares actual progress with baseline and corrects. (Key point: Definition)

2. How is SPI computed?
   A. EV / PV
   B. PV / AC
   C. EV - PV
   D. EV / AC
   Answer: A. SPI = EV/PV; SV = EV - PV. (Key point: SPI)

3. Why is it important to check whether delayed activities are critical?
   A. Because only critical delays directly push the completion date; others use float
   B. Because float is cost
   C. Non-critical delays always stop the project
   D. It does not matter
   Answer: A. Critical activity delays affect completion; non-critical ones may absorb float. (Key point: Analysis of delay)

4. Which pair is correct?
   A. Crashing is overtime or extra resources; fast tracking is doing activities in parallel
   B. Both mean delaying
   C. Crashing is parallel work; fast tracking is overtime
   D. Both mean cancelling activities
   Answer: A. Crashing adds resources or shifts; fast tracking overlaps activities. (Key point: Crashing vs fast tracking)

## Related in Project Engineering

- [Project control and control cycle steps](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-control-cycle-steps) — Project Engineering, chapter 4, asked 3×
- [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
- [Monitoring, evaluation, control; control cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Adefine-monitoring-evaluation-control-cycle) — Project Engineering, chapter 4, asked 4×
- [Control cycle; quality control factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Acontrol-cycle-quality-control-factors) — Project Engineering, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Cost control and cost control cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Acost-control-cycle-methods) — Project Engineering, chapter 4
- [Project life cycle phases and activities](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Alife-cycle-phases-activities) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 5×

## Related in other subjects

- [Schedule development and control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aschedule-development-control) — ICT Project Management, chapter 8
- [Test life cycle in quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atest-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10
- [Scope of CM and project life cycle phases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ascope-lifecycle-phases) — Construction Management, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [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