Resolving scheduling problems

Even diligently run projects can run into scheduling issues. These issues should be highlighted by the monitoring and control processes of project management. When you face scheduling problems, a simple but effective course of action will be as follows:

1. Evaluate where the schedule stands now (using Project).
2. Identify the source of the problem (using Project).
3. Identify where in the schedule you can act (using Project).
4. Do the necessary action (outside Project).

Let's examine these steps in action, with the help of an exercise schedule. This schedule has been baselined and suitably tracked to simulate a project in execution that has run into trouble. Refer to the following screenshot:

Figure 16.13 – A medium-sized project facing problems in execution

This is the schedule for an Information Technology (IT) project to implement a learning management system at a university. We will begin with...