Do's and Don'ts of Schedule Updating

Do’s

Don’ts

Status schedule updates in real time to capture progress accurately.

Issue updates more than a month late.  Outdated data leads to poor decisions.

Update schedules consistently (weekly or monthly, depending on project pace).

Update schedules less than once per month. Infrequent updates cause deviation from reality.

Modify plans based on coordination/strategy meetings to ensure team alignment.

Modify plans without field input. Ignoring site feedback leads to unrealistic schedules.

Adjust plans using historical performance to reflect realistic durations and outcomes.

Leave incomplete activity durations pegged to original estimates. Adjust based on actual performance.

Incorporate resource and trade constraints when updating to prevent trade stacking and conflicts.

Crash the schedule without accounting for resources and crew logic.

Document and substantiate all modifications to activity status, logic, durations, and other changes.

Update activity status, logic, or durations without justification. Every change should be substantiated.

Perform a monthly delay analysis and mitigation summary to stay proactive.

Save delay analysis until the end of the project. It must be ongoing.

Produce and use 3-week look-ahead schedules to keep teams aligned with near-term priorities.

Assume everyone has the latest CPM schedule. Distribute updated schedules proactively.