Project Schedule Management
Timing the Symphony of Construction: The Heart of Harmony Case Study
đź“… The Schedule Baseline
The Schedule Baseline is the approved version of the project schedule and serves as the primary standard against which project schedule performance is measured. For the "Heart of Harmony" Community Center Project, it is crucial for coordinating all 11 phases to meet the Grand Opening deadline.
Project Start Date
August 1, 2025
Grand Opening Milestone
January 15, 2028
High-Level Project Phases & Durations
| Phase / Key Activity | Start Date | End Date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Management & Initiation | Aug 2025 | Jan 2028 | Ongoing |
| Design & Permitting (Milestone: Final Design Approval) | Aug 1, 2025 | Mar 31, 2026 | 8 months |
| Procurement & Contracts (Overlaps Design) | Jan 1, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 5 months |
| Site Preparation & Foundation (Milestone: Groundbreaking Ceremony) | Jun 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 4 months |
| Building Construction (Shell & Core) | Oct 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | 9 months |
| Building Interiors & Finishes | Mar 1, 2027 | Oct 31, 2027 | 8 months |
| MEP & IT Systems Installation | Apr 1, 2027 | Nov 30, 2027 | 8 months |
| Exterior Works & Landscaping | Sep 1, 2027 | Nov 30, 2027 | 3 months |
| Fit-Out & Furnishing | Nov 1, 2027 | Dec 15, 2027 | 1.5 months |
| Testing, Commissioning & Handover | Dec 1, 2027 | Dec 31, 2027 | 1 month |
| Project Closeout & Grand Opening | Jan 1, 2028 | Jan 15, 2028 | 2 weeks |
This schedule baseline, often visualized in a Gantt Chart, shows significant overlapping phases (e.g., Procurement, Interiors, MEP) which indicates a fast-tracked or **"crashing"** approach to project execution—a high-risk strategy used to compress the schedule, which must be carefully managed. [Image of a typical Project Gantt Chart for construction]
⚙️ PMP Schedule Management Principles
As a Project Management Professional, understanding the processes behind this schedule is key:
- Activity Definition: The detailed work packages from the WBS (Section 4.1.1) must be broken down into specific schedule activities.
- Sequencing: Logical relationships (e.g., Finish-to-Start) define the order of work, ensuring the Foundation phase is completed before Shell & Core begins.
- Duration Estimating: The duration estimates (e.g., 9 months for Shell & Core) were likely determined using expert judgment and analogous/parametric estimating methods.
- Schedule Development: Techniques like the Critical Path Method (CPM) and resource leveling were used to calculate the overall project length and identify critical milestones.
- Schedule Control: The use of **SPI** (Schedule Performance Index, as seen in your EVM calculator) will be the primary metric for monitoring and controlling the project's performance against this baseline.
Key PMP Focus:
For the PMP Exam, focus on the overlapping/crashing of Design/Procurement with Construction. This is a classic example of **Concurrent Engineering** used to meet the aggressive **January 15, 2028** deadline.