A baseline creates a reference point against which changes and progress can be measured and managed. Once the project team has agreed to the program, it should be baselined. The baseline schedule must be realistic and achievable.
The baseline schedule represents the original configuration of the program plan — the consensus of all stakeholders regarding the required sequence of events, resource assignments, and acceptable dates for key deliverables. It includes:
The baseline schedule is consistent with both the program plan and the program budget plan.
The program's commitments to all stakeholders. It does not change as work progresses — it is the agreed plan.
Updated from actual performance data. The latest depiction of performance and accomplishments, with the latest forecast of remaining dates and logic.
The current schedule is compared to the baseline to track variances. Deviations from the baseline tell management that the current plan is not following the agreed plan — implying the approach needs to change, or the plan from this point forward needs to be revised.
Establishing a baseline schedule is essential to effective schedule management. Without a baseline, there is no objective reference point for measuring progress, managing changes, or substantiating delay claims.