Inputs for the Develop Schedule Process:

1. • Activity List and Attributes: The list of all activities and their attributes provides the foundation for the schedule.
   • Schedule Network Diagram: This diagram shows the sequence of activities and their dependencies.
   • Resource Requirements and Calendars: These provide information on what resources are needed for each activity and when they are available.
   • Activity Duration Estimates: Predictions of how long each activity will take.
   • Project Scope Statement: This provides context and boundaries for the schedule.
   • Enterprise Environmental Factors: External factors such as regulatory requirements or market conditions might influence the schedule.
   • Organizational Process Assets: Internal factors, such as company policies or specific methodologies, can influence the schedule.

Tools & Techniques for the Develop Schedule Process:

1. • Schedule Network Analysis: An analytical technique to identify early and late start dates and early and late finish dates for the uncompleted portions of project activities.
   • Critical Path and Chain Methods: Techniques to determine the shortest time to complete the project.
   • Resource Leveling: Adjusting activities’ start and finish dates based on resource constraints.
   • What-if Analysis: Scenario analysis shows how different factors might affect the project schedule.
   • Applying Leads and Lags: Adjusting the start time of successor activities.
   • Schedule Compression: Techniques like crashing (adding resources) or fast-tracking (doing activities in parallel) to shorten the project schedule without changing the project scope.
   • Scheduling Tool: Software tools like MS Project or Primavera assist in creating, adjusting, and monitoring the project schedule.

Outputs of the Develop Schedule Process:

1. • Project Schedule: The main output detailing each activity’s start and finish dates.
   • Schedule Baseline: A version of the project schedule that can be compared with the actual schedule to determine if the project is on track.
   • Schedule Data: Information such as resource histograms are used to support and manage the project schedule.
   • Project Document Updates: Any changes to project documents based on the development of the schedule.

The Develop Schedule Process is a dynamic activity requiring continuous refinement as the project progresses. It’s a balancing act of ensuring that the project is completed on time while ensuring that resources are used efficiently, and the project’s objectives are met. Properly developing and managing a project schedule is crucial for completing a project.