What is Planning and Scheduling?

We know Time is Money. Time is one of the constraint of Project Management Triangle (also called Triple Constraint or the Iron Triangle). Timely completion is one of the criterion that defines success of a project. Planning and Scheduling is one of the key the knowledge area in Project Management of the Engineering, Construction and Project  Management (ECPM). Applying Planning and Scheduling tools and techniques, if not guarantee, but for sure increases the probability of on-time project delivery. Being a mission critical role in ECPM projects, Planning and Scheduling professionals are paid higher than their same experience peers.

In ECPM industry, Planning and Scheduling is sub-function in Project Controls. Project Controls encompasses, planning and controls of both time and cost. Planning and Scheduling function, however, in a typical ECPM project consists of project planning in term of construction methods & time, preparation of project baseline schedule & its approval, applying baseline updates, project performance measurement, and performing delay analysis, if needed. A proficient Planning and Scheduling professional should possess skills and knowledge in Project Management basics, Critical Path Methods (CPM), Earned Value Management (EVM) and related knowledge areas. 

After Critical Path Method (CPM), Earned Value Management (EVM) is probably the most important and needed project management tool. In Engineering, Construction and Project Management (ECPM) world where the need to deliver project with the budget and timeframe is increasing forever, it will not be an exaggeration to say that EVM knowledge is a must have tool for all the ECPM professional – this is in spite of the fact that if you work for Project controls and Project Management department or not.  

Every day, every project faces questions from internal and external stakeholders like: Is project on schedule?  How much money we have spent till date? Is project is still within the budget? If it not on budget, how much is budget overrun? Can we recover from current budget overrun? How much we need to spend more to complete the project? If not on schedule, how much we are behind? If project scope is managed effectively?

Focus: