These are the final version of all plans before the initiation of a project. It includes time schedule, quality plan, communication plan, and everything else. This acts as the reference to measure the project performance.
In project management, a plan baseline refers to a set of approved project plans that serve as a reference point for measuring and monitoring project performance. It includes the original scope, schedule, and cost estimates that are agreed upon by stakeholders at the beginning of the project. The plan baseline serves as a benchmark against which actual progress and performance can be compared.
Key components of a plan baseline typically include:
- Scope Baseline: This includes the project scope statement, which outlines the project objectives, deliverables, assumptions, constraints, and acceptance criteria.
- Schedule Baseline: This consists of the project schedule, which details the sequence of activities, their durations, dependencies, and milestones. It represents the agreed-upon timeline for completing the project.
- Cost Baseline: This encompasses the project budget, which includes estimates for all project costs, such as labor, materials, equipment, and overhead. It serves as the authorized spending plan for the project.
Once the plan baseline is established and approved, any changes to the project scope, schedule, or cost must be formally documented, evaluated for their impact on the baseline, and approved through a change control process. This helps ensure that the project stays on track and that deviations from the original plan are properly managed and controlled.