Missing Actual Finish Date

Marking activities as 100% complete without setting actual finish dates in CPM scheduling is a misleading practice that can lead to inaccuracies in progress reporting, schedule analysis, and risk management. It is essential to report actual progress accurately, reflecting the true status of project activities, to make informed decisions and effectively manage the project. Actual finish dates are crucial for a precise assessment of progress and schedule analysis.

Lack of Precision: Marking activities as 100% complete without specifying an actual finish date lacks precision. It does not provide an accurate representation of the project's progress. An activity can be partially complete without reaching its actual finish date.
Misrepresentation of Progress: Setting an activity as 100% complete can misrepresent the project's actual status. It can create a false impression of progress when the activity may still have outstanding work or require additional time.
Inaccurate Schedule Analysis: Inaccurate progress reporting can lead to misleading schedule analysis. Without actual finish dates, it becomes challenging to assess schedule variances and the impact of incomplete activities on the project's critical path.
Delayed Problem Identification: Marking activities as 100% complete without an actual finish date can delay the identification of issues or delays. Project managers may not become aware of problems as they arise, reducing their ability to take timely corrective actions.
Reduced Accountability: Incomplete activities marked as 100% complete may result in a lack of accountability within the project team. Team members may believe their responsibilities are fulfilled when there is still work to be done.
Impaired Resource Allocation: Incorrectly marking activities as 100% complete can lead to inefficient resource allocation. Resources may be released prematurely, causing disruptions and additional effort to remobilize them for incomplete work.
Risk of Overlooking Delays: Incomplete work that is marked as complete can lead to underestimating the impact of potential problems. It may result in inadequate attention to tasks that are not meeting their planned schedules.
Difficulty in Performance Analysis: Accurate progress tracking is essential for assessing project performance and analyzing schedule variances. Marking activities as 100% complete without actual finish dates can hinder the ability to analyze performance effectively.