Schedule Model
A structured model that lays out how the project's activities will be performed, capturing planned durations, sequencing and dependencies, constraints, calendars, resources, and other scheduling inputs. This model is used to calculate the project schedule and to produce related scheduling outputs.
Key Points
- Represents how activities fit together to enable schedule calculation; it is not the schedule itself.
- Includes durations, logic relationships, constraints, calendars, resources, and assumptions.
- Used to generate the project schedule, critical path, and other schedule artifacts such as network diagrams and Gantt charts.
- Updated iteratively as estimates, scope, or resource availability change, often built in scheduling tools using CPM/PDM.
Example
On a construction project, the team builds a schedule model by listing all activities, estimating each duration, linking finish-to-start and start-to-start dependencies, setting crew calendars, and adding constraints for permit approvals. The scheduling tool then calculates start and finish dates, identifies the critical path, and produces the project schedule.
PMP Example Question
Which option best describes the schedule model?
- The approved set of dates used to track schedule performance.
- The plan that describes how schedule planning, development, and control will be managed.
- The bar charts and reports that show activity start and finish dates.
- The integrated set of activities, durations, dependencies, calendars, and other inputs used to compute the schedule.
Correct Answer: D — The integrated inputs used to compute the schedule
Explanation: The schedule model contains the logic and inputs that the tool uses to calculate dates; the baseline (A) is the approved schedule, the management plan (B) defines the process, and the charts/reports (C) are outputs from the model.
