Integrated Master Plan (IMP)
EVM Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: The Integrated Master Plan (IMP) is an event-based project plan made up of a hierarchy of events, each supported by specific accomplishments, and each accomplishment tied to criteria that must be met to consider it complete.
The IMP organizes a project around significant events rather than calendar dates, with accomplishments and completion criteria layered underneath each one. It's normally incorporated into the contract, making it contractually binding rather than just an internal planning tool. The IMP's events, accomplishments, and criteria are then carried down into the detailed schedule, the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).
Why it matters
Because the IMP is event-driven rather than date-driven, it keeps a project focused on what must actually be accomplished before moving forward, not just on hitting a date on the calendar. That reduces the risk of declaring an event "done" prematurely just because a deadline arrived.
Also known as
N/A
Used in
Integrated Master Schedule development
See also
FAQ
How is the IMP different from the IMS?
The IMP is the higher-level, event-based plan of events, accomplishments, and criteria; the IMS is the detailed, networked schedule that implements it.
Is the IMP a required document on every contract?
It's a common contractual deliverable on larger government programs, though not every contract requires one — it depends on the specific contract terms.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
