What exactly is the Schedule Model

Submitted by brian mahon on Wed, 11/04/2015 - 04:41

I'm coming across the term 'schedule model' in the PMBOK and I don't have any real intuitive sense as to what it is: Can someone with some depth of knowledge give me a simple definition, example or a way to think about it. Please no 'best guesses' i'm confused enough on this one, need an expert!!

The Rita book says that the schedule Model simply consists of all the schedule data such as activities, dependencies, leads and lags.

Another source online says Schedule Model = (Method + Tool + Data)

The PMBOK defines the Schedule Baseline as 'The approved version of the Schedule Model and uses the following various terms:

Schedule Data - The activities and dependencies that Rita Refers to.

Schedule Presentation - Gantt, Network Diagram, Milestone Chart

Scheduling Method - Critical Path or Critical Chain Method

Scheduling Tool - Microsoft or Other

Schedule Model = Is it just another word for the schedule data or is it something else?

Thanks in advance - If you have a web page to point me at that would also be helpful.

Brian.

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brian mahon

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 04:00

Boy, did the PMI do a good job on concealing thte definition to this one, I will write up the answer later when I have more time,

Incidentially while searching online I found out that there is a live debate within the PMI itself as to what the Schedule Model actually is - they don't even know themselves.

So I will post the basic reverse engineered solution later.

B.

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admin

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 06:44

Schedule model is a schedule network analysis TOOL that generates a project schedule either manually or using project management software. It is primarily used during project execution to manage and track the project schedule.

Schedule Model produces Project schedule , it  is a representation of the plan with the chosen schedule method (like CPM, CCM, etc) . Most of the time projects use scheduling software (like MS Project) for modelling in which we input project specific data like activities, milestones, duration, resources, activity dependencies and used generate what-if analysis, report & track project progress.

Project Schedule is list of project activities & milestones with planned dates which is outcome of Scheduling Model.

mkp

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 16:25

Hi Brian,

I am as confused as you are (or were?) about this schedule model, schedule tool, schedule data and the project schedule. Would you be kind enough to post your findings or point me to the right source?

 

@admin - According to Rita, Schedule model is the output of Schedule tool. If I consider your explanation that Schedule Model is a TOOL, and then this tool is created by the Schedule tool right? Can you please clarify some more on the relationship between schedule model and Schedule tool?

Also if a Schedule tool (like MS Project) can produce the schedule as output, then why worry about schedule model? Why purpose does it serve?

Thanks for any clarifications!

kirush

Sat, 11/07/2015 - 14:47

Schedule Model is a representation of the Schedule of activities, their interdependencies and duration like a Network Diagram eg., AON (Activity On Node) which is prepared using techniques like PDM (Precedence Diagramming Method) 

 

Quote from PMBOK 5: Pg 156: The Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) is a technique used for constructing a schedule model in which activities are represented by nodes and are graphically linked by one or more logical relationships.