Baseline – The approved version of a work product that can be changed only through formal change control procedures and is used as a basis for comparison to actual results.
Key Characteristics:
- Approved and frozen: Formally accepted and controlled version
- Reference point: Used for measuring project performance and progress
- Change control: Can only be modified through formal change management processes
- Performance measurement: Enables variance analysis and earned value management
- Stakeholder agreement: Represents agreed-upon project parameters
Types of Baselines:
1. Scope Baseline:
- Project scope statement
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
- WBS Dictionary
- Defines what work will and will not be performed
2. Schedule Baseline:
- Approved project schedule
- Start and finish dates for activities
- Milestone dates
- Critical path information
3. Cost Baseline:
- Approved project budget
- Time-phased budget (spending plan)
- Excludes management reserves
- Used for earned value measurements
4. Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB):
- Integration of scope, schedule, and cost baselines
- Used for earned value management
- Includes control accounts and work packages
Baseline Management Process:
- Development: Create initial version during planning
- Approval: Obtain formal stakeholder approval
- Documentation: Record in project management plan
- Communication: Distribute to relevant stakeholders
- Protection: Implement change control procedures
- Maintenance: Update only through approved changes
Uses and Benefits:
- Performance measurement: Compare actual vs. planned performance
- Variance analysis: Identify deviations from plan
- Change impact assessment: Evaluate effects of proposed changes
- Earned value management: Calculate schedule and cost performance indices
- Stakeholder communication: Report progress against agreed standards
- Lessons learned: Provide data for future project planning
Baseline vs. Current Plan:
- Baseline: Original approved version (frozen)
- Current Plan: May include approved changes and updates
- Comparison: Shows cumulative impact of all approved changes
When Baselines Are Established:
- Planning phase: After initial planning is complete
- Stakeholder approval: Following formal review and acceptance
- Project kickoff: Before execution begins
- Phase gates: At major project milestones
Change Control:
- Change requests: Formal proposals to modify baseline
- Impact analysis: Assess effects on scope, schedule, cost
- Approval process: Change Control Board (CCB) review
- Baseline updates: Incorporate approved changes
- Version control: Maintain history of baseline changes
Common Challenges:
- Premature baselining: Setting baseline before adequate planning
- Scope creep: Informal changes without proper control
- Unrealistic baselines: Overly optimistic or aggressive targets
- Poor communication: Stakeholders unaware of baseline parameters
- Inadequate change control: Weak processes for managing changes
Best Practices:
- Realistic planning: Ensure baselines are achievable
- Stakeholder buy-in: Obtain genuine agreement before approval
- Clear documentation: Define baseline components precisely
- Regular monitoring: Track performance against baselines consistently
- Formal change control: Implement robust change management processes
- Version management: Maintain clear baseline revision history
Documentation Locations:
- Project Management Plan
- Scope Management Plan
- Schedule Management Plan
- Cost Management Plan
- Configuration Management Plan
Related Terms:
- Change Control: Process for managing baseline modifications
- Variance: Difference between baseline and actual performance
- Earned Value Management (EVM): Performance measurement using baselines
- Configuration Management: Systematic handling of changes to baselines
- Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB): Integrated scope-schedule-cost baseline
- Management Reserve: Budget outside the cost baseline
Measurement Applications:
- Schedule Variance (SV) = Earned Value (EV) – Planned Value (PV)
- Cost Variance (CV) = Earned Value (EV) – Actual Cost (AC)
- Schedule Performance Index (SPI) = EV / PV
- Cost Performance Index (CPI) = EV / AC
