---
ref_id: PR08
ref_type: Process
ref_name: "Plan Schedule Management"
version: "1.0.0"
status: Active
pmbok8_source: "PMBOK8 Guide §2.3"
companion_ref_shortcode: PG-APG-5.6
related_skills:
  - SKL-03-01
  - SKL-03-04
related_artifacts:
  - A05
  - A14
  - A15
file_path: "reference/processes/PR08-plan-schedule-management.md"
---

# PR08 — Plan Schedule Management

**Ref ID:** PR08
**Type:** Process
**PMBOK8 Source:** §2.3
**Version:** 1.0.0

---

## Definition

Plan Schedule Management is the process of establishing the policies, procedures, and documentation for planning, developing, managing, executing, and controlling the project schedule.

## Key Characteristics

- **Governance Blueprint:** Explicitly defines the policies, tools, and processes that will build and regulate the project schedule.
- **Methodology Selection:** Formally decides the scheduling approach (Critical Path, Rolling Wave, Agile cadence, or Hybrid).
- **Threshold Setting:** Establishes precise tolerance ranges (control thresholds) for schedule variance before escalation is required.
- **Rules of Estimation:** Specifies units of measure (hours, days, weeks) and the expected degree of estimating accuracy.
- **Integrated Foundation:** Directly influences resource scheduling, budget time-phasing, and cost planning.

## PMBOK 8 Context

Under PMBOK 8, Plan Schedule Management resides in the **Schedule Performance Domain**. Rather than viewing the schedule as a standalone artifact, PMBOK 8 treats it as an essential coordination mechanism that aligns team collaboration, stakeholder expectations, and value delivery dates. It establishes the scheduling boundaries within which the project operates.

## Inputs

| Input | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project Charter | Provides high-level milestones, constraints, and release windows. | PR01 Develop Project Charter |
| Project Management Plan | Provides scope and quality planning structures to align with the timeline. | PR03 Develop PMP |
| Enterprise Environmental Factors | Corporate scheduling systems, working calendars, and geographic resource constraints. | Enterprise |
| Organizational Process Assets | Scheduling templates, guidelines, and past lessons learned. | PMO Registry |

## Outputs

| Output | Description | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule Management Plan | Subsidiary plan defining how schedule activities will be planned, structured, and controlled. | A14 Integrated Project Management Plan |

## Tools and Techniques

- **Expert Judgment:** Guidance on industry-specific scheduling software, estimation heuristics, and buffer management.
- **Data Analysis:** Alternatives analysis to evaluate different tools, methodologies, and tracking frequencies.
- **Meetings:** Integrated alignment sessions with project leads, schedulers, and resource managers.

## Cross-References

| Related Item | Type | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| A05 | Artifact | Supplying scheduling constraints, calendar assumptions, and limits |
| A14 | Artifact | Principal destination for the Schedule Management Plan |
| A15 | Artifact | The baseline schedule managed under this process's guidelines |
| PR09 | Process | Governs the decomposition of work packages into schedule activities |
| PR10 | Process | Governs the sequencing of derived schedule activities |
| SKL-03-04 | Skill | Plan Schedule |

## Practitioner Notes

Practitioners executing this process should seek answers to the following vital questions:
1. What specific scheduling methodology is most appropriate for this project's delivery approach (predictive critical path, adaptive sprints, or rolling wave)?
2. What software scheduling tool and level of details will provide the best control without causing administrative drag?
3. What are the acceptable variance thresholds for schedule performance before corrective actions must be triggered?
4. How will schedule changes be formally requested, analyzed for impact, and routed for approval?
5. Does the schedule management approach align with the resource availability, cost baseline, and risk management plan?

## Change Log

| Version | Date | Description | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | 2026-06-02 | Rebuilt to align with canonical REF file structure and YAML front-matter | PMO Director |

---

*Authority: PMBOK8 Guide §2.3; Process Groups Practice Guide §5.6*
