As a PM I can schedule work packages

A project schedule is an output of a schedule model that presents linked activities with planned dates, durations, milestones, and resources. The project schedule baseline is the approved version of a schedule model that can be changed using formal change control procedures and is used as the basis for comparison to actual results.

PMPeople represents work packages’ schedule charts. Work packages can include one or more milestones. Users can visually compare baseline dates (grey bars) to planned or actual dates (blue bars):

Sometimes, complex predictive projects require a deeper level to represent thousands of lines of activities and tasks. This is the case for EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) projects, needing scheduling professionals devoted to scheduling tools—such as Microsoft Project®, Primavera, SmartSheet, ProjectLibre, etc. In PMPeople, project managers can import work package schedule data from scheduling tools. If you use schedule tools for planning, you don’t need to re-enter work package data.

Project Managers (PM) and other managers (PMA, PMO, PfM, PgM), can schedule project work packages at PLAN > Plan Schedule > Schedule Work Packages:

  • Baseline Start: Committed or authorized work package start date.
  • Baseline Finish: Committed or authorized work package finish date.
  • Calendar: Work package calendar specifies the working days and start and finish times each day. Team Members (TM) assigned to this work package should abide by this calendar.
  • Show in Schedule chart? **** If not checked then this work package will not be represented visually in the schedule chart.
  • Milestones: A milestone is a significant point in time or event for the work package. Any work package can have zero, one or many milestones.
  • Basis of Estimates: Supporting data outlining the details used in establishing estimates such as assumptions, constraints, level of detail, ranges, and confidence levels
  • Tasks

If there are detailed work packages, then the dates for the project itself—work package #0— are automatically calculated.

When adding a new work package, baseline start and finish dates are initialized as of work package #0.

Project Managers (PM) can read work package dates with the mobile application:

Project Managers (PM) and other managers (PMA, PMO, PfM, PgM), can plan milestones at PLAN > Plan Schedule > Schedule Work Packages > Select a Work Package and extend Milestones :

Click the “Add Milestone” button to add a new milestone for this work package. Milestones can be specified entering the following data:

  • Baseline Date: Committed or authorized milestone date.

  • Name: Milestone Name.

  • Show in Report? If marked, then this milestone will be included in the status report summary schedule chart. Only applicable for milestones belonging to work package #0.

  • Show in Schedule chart? **** If not checked then this milestone will not be represented visually in the schedule chart.

  • Description: Milestone description.

  • Add Documentation Link: Supporting documents can be referenced as web links. Click the link to open the web page in a different browser tab.

Click the “downward arrow” icon to open an existing milestone. Milestones can be deleted with the “Delete” button.

Project Managers (PM) and other managers (PMA, PMO, PfM, PgM), can schedule tasks according to the Work Packages at PLAN > Schedule Work Package > select a work package and extend Tasks and click the “Add Task” button to add a new Task for this work package:

Tasks details can be opened by clicking the task name. Once opened, click the “Delete” button to delete the task. Here you can also edit task fields:

  • Task Name.
  • Start Date: Scheduled date to start this task.
  • Due Date: Scheduled date to finish this task.
  • Link: Web link associated with the task. Use it to link reference documents.
  • Email Reminders to attendees : Sent an email reminder :
    ✔️One Day Before
    ✔️On Due Date
    ✔️One Day After
  • Description : Description of the task.

This task can be assigned to Team Members by clicking on the ‘Assign’ button at PLAN-> Schedule Work Packages-> Select a Work Package-> Extend Tasks and select a task-> Extend ‘Assign Team Members to this Task’.

Team Member details can be opened by clicking the Team Member name. Once opened, click the “Delete” button to delete the Team Member.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of scheduling work packages in PMPeople?

Scheduling work packages allows project managers to plan and track baseline and actual dates, assign calendars, and visually manage project timelines through Gantt-style charts.

Can I import schedule data from external tools into PMPeople?

Yes, project managers can import schedule data from tools like Microsoft Project, Primavera, or SmartSheet, avoiding the need to re-enter work package data manually.

What are milestones in a work package?

Milestones are significant events or points in time within a work package. They help in marking progress and are displayed on the schedule chart alongside planned and baseline dates.