A Project Timeline is a critical element in project management. It is the record of every task that has been performed by the project team over a specific time period. The two basic types of time-line are physical and virtual.
Physical time-lines are based on the dates, times, and completion dates of tasks. A schedule based on a physical time-line contains a copy of all tasks as well as the completion dates of each task. A project-based virtual time-line is a master schedule that uses a virtual time-line to track the completion of each task.
Project Timelines
When a team works, they are making an effort to reach the same end result. When they begin to compare the beginning of a project with the completion date of the project, they may find that there are discrepancies. This is generally due to the fact that some of the team members have shifted time zones, had family emergencies, or moved on-site. When the project timeline is completed, they can determine which team members were at each location, and this provides a final assessment of the work that was done.
With a project timeline, each team member is assigned a column on the spreadsheet for the assignment date. They then enter their name and their job description. The next date they complete the assignment is entered as the assignment date. The complete assignment date is also entered in the appropriate columns as the end date of the project.
This gives each member of the team a unique task. After completing the task, the team may try to meet another goal for completing the project or the end date of the project. When the project has ended and the team no longer has a defined task for completing the project, this is called an out-of-scope task.
A change in the date may require that the team re-evaluate the schedule and reassign some or all of the out-of-scope tasks. The information contained in the spreadsheet will provide a summary of the project so the team can continue to work toward its goals and plan for the future. It will also allow the manager to determine if there was a clear cut when the project started, when it ended, and what the job completion rate was.
A project-based timeline can also be used as a guideline for comparing the effectiveness of team members for a specific project. By being able to identify which team members were consistently working hard and producing good work, the manager can have a better understanding of how to structure the rest of the project. Some managers prefer to use a virtual time-line, where the team members are all working at the same time on the project. However, if the project is large, or the project team needs to be divided into smaller sub-teams, this type of time-line may not be an option.
A project time-line allows the manager to document all tasks, and all the tasks they have completed, together. Once a goal is achieved, the project must be recorded as a new task to ensure that it is included in the next project-based sheet. A project time-line helps managers keep track of when the goals were met and when they are still needed.
The project time-line allows the project manager to have a sense of completion of a project without having to spend time developing the project or performing all the tasks required to complete the project. A project time-line will record the date the last task was completed and the date it will be re-evaluated to see if the project was completed successfully. Additionally, the manager can use the project timeline to track the actual completion of the project in a single sheet.
While it is not required, it is also beneficial for the project manager’s project timelines to contain a list of results from the last project the team completed. This list is used as a reference for future projects. In order to accurately track the project completion rates, it is important to include each team member’s individual project time-line.
After completing a project time-line, the project manager must make a decision whether or not to revise the project in order to take account of unforeseen events. Changes may need to be made to the project time-line, the end date, or the assignment list. in order to adjust the project for any unforeseen changes that occurred while the project was under way. YOU MUST LOOK : project time tracking spreadsheet
