Return project plan by baseline

Baselines allow you to plan for changes and impacts and roll back the baseline plan to the most appropriate option

• What the function does
  • Change management planning – methodological note
• How to set up a baseline schedule
  • Modifying only part of the schedule
• More about project scheduling

Important highlights in a nutshell:

• You can only revert to changes to the plan before this feature if you save the current baseline.
• The function changes the scheduled times of tasks. It does not change their states; therefore, no task can be lost.

What the function does

The function allows you to set the project schedule according to the baseline you have saved and currently displayed. You can create several alternatives for the project progress, compare them and then choose the most suitable option.

The function also changes the planned start and end of the project, which it sets to the values according to the baseline.

Change management planning – methodological note

This function is particularly important when you have a change requirement in a project that affects the project plan. Project management methodologies (e.g. PMBOK, ISO 26262, but also others). The methodologies require a change management analysis and design impact to the plan. Only then is the change approved, and if it is not approved, the original schedule must be reverted to.

Establish a baseline before any change planning. If the change is not approved, it is easy to revert to the original plan.

How to set up a baseline schedule

This feature is available on the project plan page, under Baselines > Return Schedule.

The function will always use the baseline you currently have loaded and displayed in the schedule. This way you can clearly see what schedule you are returning to and there can be no mistake. If it does happen, you can select a different baseline and set the plan according to it.

Adjusting to the baseline never changes the status of tasks. What was completed stays completed, what was not in the baseline and is now in the project remains in the plan. For example, if you have created new tasks, reverting to the baseline will do nothing to them – nor will it change their scheduling.

Modifying only part of the schedule

The function can edit the entire schedule, or only selected tasks. If you run a schedule with selected tasks, the function will return only the steps you have selected. Otherwise, it will set all the current steps.

More about project scheduling

• Learn more about project baselines here
• Read more about the project schedule here
• Scheduling tutorial is here