Schedule
Scheduling Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: A Schedule is a plan that shows when specified work will be performed to meet project objectives on time.
A Schedule lays out the timing of project work, sequencing tasks so objectives are met by the required dates. In Earned Value Management (EVM) practice, "the schedule" usually means the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS). The precise terms sit beneath it: Network Schedule for the logic, Baseline Schedule for the approved values, and Forecast Schedule for actuals and current expectations.
What this means for you
The schedule is the backbone that lets a project track whether work is happening when it was planned to — without it, there's no basis for measuring progress against time. It also feeds directly into schedule-based EVM metrics like Planned Value.
Also known as
N/A
Used in
Project planning and status reporting; schedule performance measurement; Budgeted Cost for Work Scheduled time-phasing
See also
FAQ
What's the difference between a Schedule and a Network Schedule?
A Network Schedule specifically shows the logical dependencies between tasks; a schedule more broadly is any plan of when work occurs.
Is a schedule the same thing as the Integrated Master Schedule?
Not necessarily. The IMS is a specific deliverable — one networked schedule covering the full contract scope. A project may also have summary schedules, supplier and subordinate schedules, and working schedules that aren't the IMS.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
