Actual Duration – The time in calendar units between the actual start date and actual finish date of a schedule activity.
Key Details:
- Measurement: Expressed in work periods (days, weeks, months) or calendar time units
- Difference from Planned Duration: May vary from the originally estimated duration due to various factors
- Documentation: Recorded as part of work performance data and used for lessons learned
- Uses:
- Performance measurement and analysis
- Future project planning and estimating
- Schedule variance analysis
- Earned value calculations
- Historical data for organizational process assets
Example: If an activity was planned to take 5 days but actually took 7 days from start to completion, the actual duration is 7 days.
Related Terms:
- Planned Duration: Original time estimate for the activity
- Remaining Duration: Time needed to complete an in-progress activity
- Schedule Variance: Difference between planned and actual performance
