A project plan that looks solid on paper often falls apart the moment resources get double-booked, a dependency gets missed, or a delay ripples through the critical path. The professionals who keep complex, multi-stakeholder projects on track are the ones who master scheduling as a discipline in its own right, not just a byproduct of planning.

This training course builds that discipline from the ground up, aligned with Project Management Institute (PMI) standards, covering everything from building a Work Breakdown Structure and estimating durations to critical path analysis, schedule software, and performance reporting, so that participants can build accurate, defensible schedules and pursue the PMI-SP credential with confidence.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Design accurate schedules that meet project requirements and constraints.
• Build and use a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) as the foundation for scheduling.
• Apply advanced tools and methodologies, including critical path analysis and Earned Value Management, to analyse schedule performance.
• Use specialised scheduling software such as Primavera and MS Project effectively.
• Manage schedule variances, changes, and compression while keeping stakeholders aligned.
• Prepare confidently and competently for the PMI-SP examination.

Target Audience

• Project managers working in construction, engineering, and IT sectors.
• Scheduling engineers and analysts seeking to build their professional expertise.
• Programme and portfolio management professionals specialising in project scheduling.
• Anyone pursuing PMI-SP certification as an internationally recognised professional qualification.

• Module 1: Scheduling Foundations and the PMI-SP Credential

  • The concept of scheduling and its role in project success.
  • The difference between planning and time scheduling.
  • Schedule development stages within the project lifecycle.
  • The role of the scheduling professional within project management.
  • The scope and importance of PMI-SP certification.
  • The knowledge areas covered by the certification.

• Module 2: Professional Skills and Ethical Standards for Schedulers

  • Core responsibilities of a scheduling professional.
  • Coordination with cross-functional project teams.
  • Providing scheduling support for decision-making.
  • Professional conduct principles for schedulers.
  • Adherence to PMI standards.
  • Maintaining integrity and transparency.

• Module 3: Building the Schedule — WBS and Schedule Components

  • Identifying activities and sequencing them logically.
  • Milestones and organisational constraints.
  • Task dependencies and their impact.
  • Building the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) as a core scheduling tool.
  • Converting WBS deliverables into measurable activities.
  • Organising task and activity relationships.

• Module 4: Sequencing Activities and Allocating Resources

  • The four types of schedule relationships.
  • Analysing time dependencies and their impact.
  • Managing inter-task links to minimise conflicts.
  • Classifying project resources.
  • Assigning resources to different activities.
  • Resolving resource overlaps and levelling.

• Module 5: Estimating Duration and Analysing the Critical Path

  • Traditional and expert-based activity estimation.
  • Three-point estimation using PERT.
  • Using historical data for estimation.
  • Identifying the critical path and schedule risk.
  • Calculating float and reserve time.
  • Assessing the impact of delays on overall project duration.

• Module 6: Measuring and Reporting Schedule Performance

  • Measuring progress using Earned Value Management (EVM).
  • Analysing deviations from the plan.
  • Key performance indicators for decision-making.
  • Designing effective schedule performance reports.
  • Using charts to illustrate progress.
  • Presenting analyses to management and stakeholders.

• Module 7: Scheduling Software and Compression Techniques

  • Comparing leading scheduling tools.
  • Using Primavera and MS Project effectively.
  • Creating schedules with advanced software.
  • Techniques to accelerate the schedule and reduce duration.
  • Applying Crashing and Fast Tracking.
  • Managing the impacts of schedule compression.

• Module 8: Finalising and Integrating the Schedule

  • Characteristics of practical and realistic schedules.
  • Reviewing schedules with stakeholders.
  • Approving schedules as an official execution reference.
  • Links between scheduling, cost, and quality management.
  • Connecting scheduling with risk management.
  • Adapting the schedule to changes and corrective actions.

• Module 9: Planning for Schedule Control

  • Components of a schedule management plan.
  • Defining scheduling standards and procedures.
  • Formal approval of the schedule plan.
  • Regular tracking of schedule progress.
  • Recording actual data and comparing it with planned values.
  • Updating the schedule to ensure accurate execution.

• Module 10: Managing Variances and Change Requests

  • Early identification of schedule deviations.
  • Analysing causes and implementing corrective actions.
  • Resetting schedules to return to baseline.
  • Receiving and documenting change requests.
  • Analysing the time impact of changes.
  • Revising the baseline schedule and obtaining approval.

• Module 11: Learning from Experience — Post-Project Review and Continuous Improvement

  • Reviewing project schedule performance.
  • Extracting lessons learned in scheduling.
  • Comparing results to the original plan.
  • Enhancing processes based on experience.
  • Preparing reference models for future schedules.
  • Applying continuous improvement in upcoming projects.

• Module 12: Preparing for the PMI-SP Exam

  • Distribution of knowledge areas in the exam.
  • Study and review strategies.
  • Reviewing official study resources.