Baseline
EVM Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: In Earned Value Management (EVM), the Baseline is the approved plan for a project's cost, schedule, and technical scope. Performance is measured against it throughout the project.
"Baseline" can mean the overall approved plan, or more narrowly the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB). The PMB is the time-phased budget used for formal performance measurement.
What this means for you
Without an approved, stable Baseline, there's nothing to measure performance against. That's why changes to it go through a controlled process. Cost Variance, Schedule Variance, and the performance indices all depend on it.
Also known as
Baseline Plan; Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) is the formal version used in an Earned Value Management System (EVMS)
Used in
Budgeted Cost for Work Scheduled; Budget at Completion; Cost Variance; Schedule Variance; Cost Performance Index; Schedule Performance Index
See also
FAQ
What's the difference between "Baseline" and "Baseline Schedule"?
The Baseline is the full approved plan: cost, schedule, and scope. The Baseline Schedule is just the schedule part of that plan.
Can the baseline change once a project starts?
Yes, but only through a formal change process (see Baseline Change Control). This usually follows a change to the contract's scope or an approved internal change.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
