Shifting the Paradigm: Moving from Planned vs Actual to Schedule Adherence (Realistic approach)

Today, I would like to shed light on an important concept that has been an integral part of my project management experience over the last 11 years - is Schedule Adherence??.

Sanke from the Same Hole Concept

Most of us are familiar with the traditional Planned vs. Actual approach where we measure the progress of our projects based on the amount of work completed against the planned work. This approach, while effective, might not always paint the complete picture.

Let's illustrate this with an example. Consider a project valued at $1000???. At a certain date, the planned work was $450 and the actual completed work was $400. It appears as a decent 88% achievement against the plan. But, is this the real story?

When we look closer, we find that $100 of the actual work completed was tasks planned for a later date. Thus, the real progress against the planned tasks for the current date is only 67%. This is the reality that we often overlook when we focus solely on the Planned vs. Actual approach.

Calculation Formula

1. Schedule Adherence can be calculated with the following formula:

• The Work Planned to Date is $450
• The Actual Work Completed for Tasks Planned is $300 (since $100 of the $400 completed was for tasks planned for later dates) So, plugging these numbers into the formula: Schedule Adherence (%) = (300 / 450) * 100% = 66.67% So, in this case, Schedule Adherence is approximately 67%, which indicates that we're behind on our planned schedule. This figure provides a more accurate representation of the project's status than the 88% progress rate calculated using the Planned vs Actual approach. It also signals that you might need to take corrective actions to get back on track with our planned schedule.

2. Actual Progress of a project can be calculated using the following formula:

• The Work Planned to Date is $450
• The Actual Work Completed is $400 (this includes work done ahead of schedule) So, plugging these values into the formula: Actual Progress (%) = (400 / 450) * 100% = 88% So, our actual progress is 40%, indicating that we have completed 40% of the total project value. This calculation includes all work completed, whether it was scheduled for the current date or for a later date.

Here, I would like to highlight a common scenario in the project management landscape. When projects start to lag, middle management often encourages teams to start on later tasks ahead of schedule. On one hand, this can temporarily inflate progress percentages and divert attention from delays. On the other hand, it could also be a strategic move to prevent a peak load in the future which is also positive sign. So, in the nothing right nothing right. Only one concept that we must focus on schedule adherence so that we can effectively work and focused to achieve the target.

This brings us to the concept of Schedule Adherence??. It emphasizes doing the right work at the right time, not just doing work. It paints a more accurate picture of project progress, aiding in early identification of potential delays and proactive corrective actions.

However, while this approach may serve a short-term purpose, it can obscure the real progress against the project schedule. Hence, the need for a shift in focus towards Schedule Adherence becomes even more critical??.

Conclusion

While progress against plan remains a valid measure, shifting our focus towards Schedule Adherence can give us a more realistic view of the project's health. After all, successful project management is not just about doing things right but also about doing the right things at the right time?.

I invite all project management professionals to join the conversation and share their thoughts on this. Let's learn and grow together.

Project Management Article Part 3

See previous Article ????

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/anubhav-sharma-17873686_the-banana-curve-in-project-management-is-activity-7153285730071437313-i_w0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

#ProjectManagement#ProjectPlanning#ProjectScheduler#PlanningAndScheduling#ProjectManagerLife#ProjectSuccess#ProjectTimeline#BusinessStrategy#EffectivePlanning#ManagementSkills#ProfessionalDevelopment#ProjectGoals#ProjectMilestone#ProjectExecution#BusinessPlanning#ProjectManagement #BananaCurve #Agility #Adaptability #Success#ScheduleAdherence #Planning #ProjectProgress