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Forecast Schedule

Forecast Schedule

Scheduling Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: The Forecast Schedule is the working set of schedule values for every task — actual start, actual finish, and progress for work already performed, plus forecast dates and durations for work still remaining — updated each status cycle.

Every task carries two sets of values: baseline and forecast. The Baseline Schedule is the approved plan that performance is measured against. The Forecast Schedule is everything the schedule currently says about that task: actual start and finish dates and percent complete for work already done, and forecast start, finish, and remaining duration for work still ahead. Despite the name, it is not future-looking only — it combines what actually happened with what is now expected. Comparing it against the baseline is how schedule variance is identified. Whether the two sets of values are held in a single file or in two separate copies of the schedule depends on the tool; either way, every task in the baseline must also appear in the forecast.

Why it matters

The Forecast Schedule is what the team actually works to, because it reflects both what has happened and what is now expected rather than the original plan. It is the predictive half of the pair: the baseline states what was committed, and the forecast states where the project stands and where it is heading. A forecast that is not kept current with status, approved scope changes, and workarounds stops being a useful management tool.

Also known as
Current Schedule, Forecast
Used in
Schedule Variance analysis; Critical Path Analysis; schedule health and execution metrics

FAQ

How is the Forecast Schedule different from the Baseline Schedule?
The Baseline Schedule is the approved set of values performance is measured against, changed only through formal change control. The Forecast Schedule carries the recorded actuals and the current expectation, and is updated every status cycle. Both sets of values belong to the same tasks.
Are the Baseline Schedule and the Forecast Schedule separate files?
That depends on the scheduling tool. Some tools keep the baseline as a separate saved copy of the schedule; others store baseline values as fields on the same tasks, so one file carries both sets. It's a tool detail. What matters is that every baseline task appears in the forecast and that the two can be compared.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
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