Delay & disruption
Acceleration
Measures taken to complete earlier than the current forecast or to recover delay, often through added resources, overtime, resequencing, or changed methods.
In practiceRecord direction, cost, productivity effects, achieved days, and remaining risk.
CPM mechanics
Activity
A discrete piece of work or a control point represented in the schedule network.
In practiceName measurable work with a clear verb and object; avoid using activities as vague containers for an entire phase.
Primavera P6
Activity code
A controlled classification field used to group, filter, report, and exchange activities.
In practiceGovern code dictionaries and ownership; inconsistent codes make portfolio reporting unreliable.
Primavera P6
Activity ID
The unique identifier for an activity within a P6 project.
In practiceUse a stable, sortable coding convention; names may change as scope is clarified, but IDs should remain traceable.
Earned value
Actual cost AC
The recorded cost incurred for the work performed by the measurement date.
In practiceReconcile accounting timing, accruals, and material treatment so cost and earned progress are comparable.
Statusing & forecasting
Actual finish
The recorded date on which the activity’s defined scope was completed.
In practiceVerify the completion criterion; administrative closeout and physical completion may be different events.
Statusing & forecasting
Actual start
The recorded date on which work on an activity began.
In practiceSupport actual dates with contemporaneous field records and do not use them to force preferred logic outcomes.
Delay & disruption
As-planned versus as-built analysis
A comparison of the planned sequence and timing with what actually occurred.
In practiceBuild the as-built chronology from reliable records and analyze causation rather than treating every variance as responsibility.
CPM mechanics
Backward pass
The CPM calculation that moves backward from the completion condition to determine late dates and float.
In practiceConfirm which finish condition and float options the software used before interpreting late dates.
Contract time
Baseline acceptance
The formal disposition that a submitted baseline meets specified requirements for use as the plan of record.
In practiceState whether the action is acceptance, approval, no objection, or review only; the words can have different contractual consequences.
Schedule quality
Baseline Execution Index BEI
A ratio comparing activities actually completed with the activities planned to complete by the status date.
In practiceInvestigate missed baseline completions and the quality of the baseline population before interpreting the ratio.
Statusing & forecasting
Baseline schedule
The formally accepted plan of record used to measure later performance and change.
In practiceFreeze, name, approve, and retain it with the review record and native schedule file.
Earned value
Budget at Completion BAC
The total authorized budget for the defined scope at completion.
In practiceControl changes to BAC through formal baseline change control.
CPM mechanics
Calendar
The work and nonwork pattern used to convert durations into dates, including shifts, weekends, holidays, and exceptions.
In practiceAudit calendar assignments and hours per day before comparing durations or float.
Delay & disruption
Causation
The demonstrated connection between an event and the time or productivity effect claimed.
In practiceBuild a traceable chain from event to affected work, path movement, mitigation, and resulting completion impact.
Contract time
Change order
A formal modification to scope, price, time, or other contract terms.
In practiceConnect the approved change to schedule activities, cost records, notice, and the revised contractual dates.
Primavera P6
Check Schedule report
P6’s configurable report for logic, lag, constraint, float, duration, progress, baseline, and relationship warning signs.
In practiceTreat thresholds as screening criteria and investigate every exception; a passing count is not proof of a credible plan.
Delay & disruption
Collapsed as-built analysis
A method that removes selected delay events from an as-built model to estimate what completion might have been without them.
In practiceExplain the as-built logic and removal assumptions because the reconstructed counterfactual is highly judgment-dependent.
Delay & disruption
Compensable delay
An excusable delay for which the contract or law may also permit monetary recovery.
In practiceTime and money entitlement are separate questions and depend on the governing contract and jurisdiction.
Delay & disruption
Concurrent delay
Two or more delay events affecting completion during the same period under the concurrency rule applicable to the contract or jurisdiction.
In practiceDo not label events concurrent merely because their dates overlap; analyze responsibility and actual critical-path effect.
CPM mechanics
Constraint
A rule applied to an activity or project that restricts the dates otherwise produced by network logic.
In practiceUse constraints only for genuine external or contractual boundaries and document the reason.
Delay & disruption
Constructive acceleration
A claimed acceleration arising when excusable delay relief is denied or not timely granted and the original completion obligation remains enforced.
In practiceThe elements and remedy are contract- and jurisdiction-specific; obtain legal advice for consequential decisions.
Delay & disruption
Contemporaneous records
Documents and data created at or near the time work and decisions occurred.
In practicePreserve native schedules, reports, daily logs, correspondence, photos, approvals, and change records with dates and provenance.
Contract time
Contract milestone
A date or event made enforceable by the contract, often with specific obligations or consequences.
In practiceTrace each milestone to supported predecessor logic and the exact contract clause.
Earned value
Control account
A management control point where scope, schedule, budget, actual cost, and responsibility are integrated.
In practiceAssign a responsible manager and objective performance measures at a level that supports action.
Risk & recovery
Correlation
The tendency of uncertain durations or risks to move together rather than independently.
In practiceModel shared drivers such as weather, labor, or common suppliers to avoid artificially narrow forecasts.
Earned value
Cost Performance Index CPI
Earned value divided by actual cost, indicating cost efficiency for accomplished work.
In practiceCheck data completeness and the measurement basis before forecasting from CPI.
Earned value
Cost variance CV
Earned value minus actual cost, showing whether accomplished work cost more or less than its budgeted value.
In practiceInvestigate the work-package drivers rather than reporting only the aggregate.
Schedule quality
Critical Path Length Index CPLI
A schedule-health ratio comparing critical-path length and available float to the time remaining on the controlling path.
In practiceConfirm the formula, completion milestone, and float basis used by the assessment tool before comparing thresholds.
CPM mechanics
Critical path method CPM
A network calculation that derives schedule dates and float from activity durations, calendars, relationships, constraints, and status.
In practiceTreat the calculated finish as the output of a model whose inputs still require professional review.
Risk & recovery
Criticality index
The percentage of simulation iterations in which an activity appears on the modeled critical path.
In practiceCombine it with sensitivity and path review; an activity can influence completion without being critical in every run.
Statusing & forecasting
Current schedule
The live project schedule containing the latest approved logic, status, remaining work, and forecast.
In practiceCompare it both with the previous update and the governing baseline; each comparison answers a different question.
Schedule quality
Dangling finish
An activity whose finish does not drive a successor even though its start may be connected.
In practiceConnect the completed output to the next real handoff or explain why it is a terminal event.
Schedule quality
Dangling start
An activity whose start is not fully driven by predecessor logic even though another event may drive its finish.
In practiceAdd a real start driver rather than relying on finish logic to make the row appear connected.
Statusing & forecasting
Data date
The as-of point that separates reported history from forecast remaining work in a schedule update.
In practiceAgree the cutoff, status every activity consistently to it, and preserve the exact submitted file.
Delay & disruption
Delay
An event or condition that causes work or a required completion to occur later than it otherwise would.
In practiceSeparate the event, responsibility, path effect, and remedy; lateness alone does not establish entitlement.
Delay & disruption
Disruption
Loss of productivity or efficiency caused by interference, change, congestion, resequencing, or other impacts, whether or not completion is delayed.
In practiceAnalyze productivity and causation separately from critical delay.
Primavera P6
Duration percent complete
A time-based P6 percentage derived from original and remaining duration.
In practiceIt measures consumed planned duration, not necessarily installed physical work.
Primavera P6
Duration type
A P6 setting that controls how duration, units, and resource units per time respond when one value changes.
In practiceSet duration types deliberately before loading resources or updating progress; different types recalculate differently.
Contract time
Early completion schedule
A plan forecasting completion before the contractual completion date.
In practiceReview contract treatment, float, owner reliance, and whether later events affect the early date or only the contractual date.
CPM mechanics
Early finish EF
The earliest calculated date on which an activity can finish under the current network.
In practiceCompare early finish with the baseline, contractual milestones, and operational commitments rather than reading it alone.
CPM mechanics
Early start ES
The earliest calculated date on which the remaining work of an activity can begin under the current network.
In practiceEarly start is calculated, not a contractual promise; it changes when logic, calendars, status, or constraints change.
Earned value
Earned value EV
The authorized budget value of work actually accomplished by the measurement date.
In practiceEarn value through objective completion rules aligned with the WBS and control accounts.
Primavera P6
Enterprise project structure EPS
P6’s hierarchy for organizing projects, programs, portfolios, security, and summarized reporting.
In practicePlace projects under the correct EPS node before applying codes, security, and reporting standards.
Earned value
Estimate at Completion EAC
The current forecast of total cost when the defined work is complete.
In practiceDocument whether EAC is bottom-up, formula-based, or management-adjusted and reconcile it to remaining risk.
Earned value
Estimate to Complete ETC
The forecast cost required to complete all remaining authorized work.
In practiceBuild ETC from current quantities, productivity, commitments, schedule, and risk rather than residual budget alone.
Delay & disruption
Excusable delay
A delay for which the contract may provide additional time because the event is outside the contractor’s responsibility.
In practiceApply the contract’s risk allocation, notice, causation, and criticality requirements to the project facts.
Delay & disruption
Extension of time EOT
A formal increase to contractual time granted under the contract’s change or delay provisions.
In practiceTie the requested days to notice, entitlement, a supported schedule effect, and the specific milestone being changed.
Primavera P6
Filter
A P6 rule that limits the records displayed without deleting or changing the underlying schedule.
In practiceAlways disclose active filters in reviews and exports; a filtered layout can make material work disappear.
Contract time
Final completion
The contractual completion point after all remaining work and closeout obligations are satisfied.
In practiceDo not collapse final completion into substantial completion; punch work, records, and administrative closeout may control it.
Primavera P6
Finish milestone
A P6 zero-duration activity type representing completion of an event or phase.
In practiceGive it predecessor logic and align contractual milestones with the governing documents.
CPM mechanics
Finish-to-finish relationship FF
A logic tie in which the successor finish is driven by the predecessor finish, subject to any lag.
In practiceConfirm the start of the successor is also logically supported; a finish tie alone can leave a dangling start.
CPM mechanics
Finish-to-start relationship FS
A logic tie in which the successor cannot start until the predecessor finishes, subject to any lag.
In practiceUse this relationship when the handoff is genuinely finish-to-start rather than merely because it is the default.
Contract time
Float ownership
The contractual rule governing how schedule flexibility may be used and whether either party has priority to it.
In practiceRead the clause before asserting ownership; track which event actually consumes float.
Statusing & forecasting
Forecast
The current prediction of future dates, duration, cost, or performance based on status and remaining assumptions.
In practiceA forecast should change when the evidence changes; preserving a target is not the same as forecasting.
Delay & disruption
Forensic schedule analysis FSA
The technical investigation of schedule evidence to evaluate delay, sequencing, causation, and time-related responsibility.
In practicePreserve method transparency, data provenance, sensitivity checks, and the distinction between technical findings and legal conclusions.
CPM mechanics
Forward pass
The CPM calculation that moves from the beginning of the network to determine early start and early finish dates.
In practiceIf an early date looks wrong, trace the driving predecessor logic, calendar, constraint, and remaining duration.
Delay & disruption
Fragnet
A small network of activities and relationships representing added, changed, or delayed work for insertion into a schedule.
In practiceBuild it from the actual scope and handoffs; preserve the before-and-after files and calculation logs.
CPM mechanics
Free float FF
The calculated time an activity may move before it delays the early start of an immediate successor.
In practiceFree float reveals local handoff risk that total float can hide.
Primavera P6
Group and sort
P6 layout settings that organize rows into bands and define their display order.
In practiceUse WBS, phase, area, responsibility, or status grouping to answer a specific review question.
Schedule quality
Hard constraint
A constraint that can override or tightly restrict the dates produced by logic.
In practiceLimit hard constraints to true external requirements and disclose their effect on float and path calculations.
Schedule quality
Horizontal traceability
The ability to follow driving logic across activities and test how a change propagates through the network.
In practicePerform a controlled schedule shock or trace-logic review to confirm real handoffs are connected.
Delay & disruption
Impacted as-planned analysis
A modeled method that inserts delay events into the as-planned schedule to estimate prospective effect.
In practiceRecognize that it may not capture actual progress, changed logic, mitigation, or later project conditions.
CPM mechanics
Lag
Elapsed working time placed on a relationship between predecessor and successor events.
In practiceModel observable work such as curing or review as an activity when it needs accountability, progress, or its own calendar.
Schedule quality
Large float
Total float above a project-defined threshold, which may indicate loose logic, distant completion conditions, or legitimate flexibility.
In practiceInspect the path and milestone context rather than assuming large float is automatically good or bad.
CPM mechanics
Late finish LF
The latest calculated date an activity may finish without violating the completion condition used in the backward pass.
In practiceDo not assume a late finish is an approved delivery date; it is a network result.
CPM mechanics
Late start LS
The latest calculated date an activity may start without violating the completion condition used in the backward pass.
In practiceLate dates can be distorted by constraints or the selected float calculation, so inspect the scheduling options.
Primavera P6
Layout
A saved P6 view combining columns, grouping, sorting, filters, bars, timescale, and lower-pane details.
In practiceMaintain named working, review, and print layouts so different users reach the same evidence quickly.
CPM mechanics
Lead
A negative lag that allows a successor event to occur before the related predecessor event.
In practiceAvoid leads in professional schedules; explicit overlapping activities usually communicate the plan more defensibly.
Primavera P6
Level of effort activity LOE
A support activity whose dates are derived from relationships to other work rather than an independent duration-driven path.
In practiceKeep LOE work off the controlling path and do not use it to hide discrete deliverables.
Contract time
Liquidated damages LDs
A contractually stated amount associated with specified late completion, subject to the governing agreement and law.
In practiceKeep entitlement, milestone definition, extensions, and calculation separate from technical schedule findings.
Schedule quality
Logic density
A measure of how extensively activities are connected within the schedule network.
In practiceReview the actual driving paths and handoffs because density cannot distinguish useful logic from clutter.
Schedule quality
Long duration
An activity whose duration exceeds the detail threshold established for planning and status control.
In practiceBreak long activities into measurable handoffs unless the work is truly continuous and can be objectively statused.
Schedule quality
Long lag
A relationship lag exceeding the project’s defined review threshold.
In practiceReplace hidden time with a measurable activity when the interval represents work, review, cure, delivery, or approval.
CPM mechanics
Longest path
The continuous driving chain of activities from the data date to a selected completion milestone.
In practiceIn P6, distinguish longest-path reporting from a configurable total-float definition of criticality.
CPM mechanics
Milestone
A zero-duration event used to mark a contractual, management, or technical point in the plan.
In practiceUse milestones for real events such as notice to proceed, beneficial occupancy, or approval—not as substitutes for missing work.
Risk & recovery
Monte Carlo simulation
Repeated sampling from defined uncertainty ranges and risk events to estimate a distribution of schedule outcomes.
In practiceDocument distributions, correlations, iterations, risk mapping, and sensitivity to assumptions.
CPM mechanics
Near-critical path
A path with little remaining float or a meaningful probability of becoming controlling.
In practiceMonitor path movement and convergence because tomorrow’s critical path often sits just outside today’s threshold.
CPM mechanics
Negative float
A calculated shortfall showing that the network cannot meet a constraint or required completion condition as modeled.
In practiceTrace the constraint and the driving path; do not “repair” negative float by weakening logic.
Schedule quality
Negative lag
A relationship lag below zero, often called a lead.
In practicePrefer explicit overlapping work and clear handoffs because negative lags are difficult to status and defend.
Delay & disruption
Non-excusable delay
A delay assigned to the contractor under the applicable contract and facts.
In practiceEvaluate whether it affected a controlling path and whether owner-caused or neutral events overlap.
Contract time
Notice
A communication required by the contract to preserve rights or inform another party of an event, impact, or claim.
In practiceFollow the required timing, recipient, form, content, and update provisions; technical merit does not cure every notice failure.
Contract time
Notice to proceed NTP
The contractual direction authorizing work to begin or contract time to start under stated conditions.
In practiceModel the correct NTP and distinguish limited, design, construction, and full notices where applicable.
Schedule quality
Open end
An activity missing a logical predecessor, successor, or both, except for legitimate project boundaries.
In practiceRun open-end checks on every submission and require an explanation for accepted exceptions.
CPM mechanics
Original duration OD
The planned working time assigned to an activity before progress is recorded.
In practiceBase the duration on quantity, production, crew, access, and calendar assumptions rather than a preferred finish date.
Statusing & forecasting
Out-of-sequence progress OOS
Actual work recorded before its driving predecessor logic is satisfied.
In practiceInvestigate the field sequence and choose retained logic or progress override deliberately; the option can materially change the forecast.
Primavera P6
P6 XML file
A schema-based Oracle exchange format used for projects and related P6 data.
In practiceConfirm what objects and global data the chosen exchange includes before treating XML and XER as interchangeable.
Risk & recovery
P50 date
The completion date met or improved in approximately half of modeled simulation outcomes.
In practiceUse it as a probability statement under the model assumptions, not a guaranteed or automatically appropriate commitment.
Risk & recovery
P80 date
The completion date met or improved in approximately 80 percent of modeled simulation outcomes.
In practiceConfirm whether organizational policy, risk tolerance, and funding align with that confidence level.
Delay & disruption
Pacing
A deliberate slowing of one activity in response to an equal or greater delay elsewhere.
In practiceDocument the contemporaneous decision, available float, controlling path, and ability to resume.
Primavera P6
Percent complete type
A P6 setting that determines whether duration, physical, or units progress drives the activity percent complete field.
In practiceChoose the type that matches the progress-measurement method and do not mix them without explaining the consequence.
Earned value
Performance Measurement Baseline PMB
The time-phased integrated scope, schedule, and budget plan against which performance is measured.
In practiceMaintain the baseline through authorized change control and keep management reserve outside it.
Statusing & forecasting
Periodic schedule update
A statused and recalculated submission reporting actual progress, changes, current paths, and forecast dates for a defined period.
In practiceRequire the native file, narrative, schedule log, change register, and evidence supporting material actuals and revisions.
Primavera P6
Physical percent complete
A user-entered or step-weighted P6 measure of completed physical scope.
In practiceSupport it with quantities, weighted steps, or another objective rule; it does not automatically reforecast remaining duration.
Statusing & forecasting
Planned dates
P6 date fields used for planning and certain calculations whose behavior depends on activity status and configuration.
In practiceDo not use Planned Start or Planned Finish as a substitute for an assigned baseline without documenting the field behavior.
Earned value
Planned value PV
The authorized budget assigned to work scheduled to be completed by the measurement date.
In practiceConfirm the time-phased baseline and status period before interpreting performance.
Earned value
Planning package
Future authorized scope held within a control account before it is detailed into work packages.
In practiceTime-phase it realistically and convert it under a controlled rolling-wave process.
Primavera P6
Primary baseline
The comparison baseline assigned in P6 for primary bar, date, and variance display.
In practiceCreating a baseline is not enough—assign the intended project and comparison baselines and verify the displayed fields.
Statusing & forecasting
Progress override
A P6 scheduling option that allows remaining successor work to proceed despite unfinished predecessor logic after out-of-sequence progress.
In practiceUse only when actual field sequence superseded the modeled dependency and the new logic is supported.
Statusing & forecasting
Progress Spotlight
A P6 display aid that highlights activities scheduled for work in a selected update window.
In practiceUse it to focus status collection, then still inspect out-of-sequence work and activities outside the spotlight.
Primavera P6
Project ID
The unique identifier P6 uses for a project record.
In practiceApply a governed naming convention and avoid renaming IDs casually because exchanges and integrations may depend on them.
Delay & disruption
Prospective analysis
An analysis performed before the full outcome is known to estimate future time effect.
In practiceState the information date and assumptions; do not present the result as retrospective proof.
Risk & recovery
Recovery schedule
A revised execution plan showing specific actions intended to regain lost time or protect a required completion.
In practiceTie recovered days to named changes in crews, shifts, sequence, access, procurement, or method and measure whether they occur.
Primavera P6
Reflection
A what-if copy linked to a source project that can be reviewed and selectively merged back.
In practiceUse reflections for controlled scenario testing and preview every merge; never treat the reflection as an approved schedule by default.
Schedule quality
Relationship ratio
The number of logical relationships compared with the number of activities in a schedule.
In practiceUse it as a screening metric only; many redundant ties can raise the ratio without improving logic quality.
CPM mechanics
Remaining duration RD
The estimated working time still required to complete an in-progress or not-started activity.
In practiceReforecast it from field conditions each update; percent complete alone does not establish remaining time.
Statusing & forecasting
Remaining finish
The current forecast finish of the unfinished portion of an activity.
In practiceReview the remaining duration, calendar, resource plan, and driving relationships that produce it.
Statusing & forecasting
Remaining start
The current calculated or stored start of the unfinished portion of an activity in P6.
In practiceFor in-progress work, distinguish the historical actual start from the forecast of remaining work.
Primavera P6
Resource dependent activity
A P6 activity type whose resources can be scheduled using their individual calendars.
In practiceUse only when resource calendars genuinely control the work; otherwise results can be difficult to explain.
Statusing & forecasting
Retained logic
A P6 scheduling option that keeps unfinished predecessor logic driving remaining successor work after out-of-sequence progress.
In practiceUse it when the original handoff still governs the unfinished work and document exceptions.
Delay & disruption
Retrospective analysis
An analysis performed after events using actual project records and schedule history.
In practiceSelect a method suited to the available updates, as-built evidence, contract question, and required level of proof.
Risk & recovery
Risk register
A controlled list of identified threats and opportunities with owners, causes, effects, probability, impact, and responses.
In practiceConnect material schedule risks to activities or milestones and update them as conditions change.
Schedule quality
Schedule basis memorandum SBM
A companion document explaining scope, calendars, coding, logic strategy, assumptions, constraints, resources, and calculation settings.
In practiceRequire it with the baseline and update it when material planning rules change.
Risk & recovery
Schedule contingency
Time intentionally provided to absorb identified or residual uncertainty under a defined control rule.
In practiceMake contingency visible, assigned, and governed rather than hiding it inside durations or lags.
Primavera P6
Schedule log
The P6 scheduling report that records calculation settings, statistics, warnings, and results.
In practiceSave the log with each formal schedule submission so the calculation can be reproduced and challenged.
Risk & recovery
Schedule margin
A separately managed time allowance between planned completion and an external commitment or need date.
In practiceDefine ownership, drawdown authority, reporting, and replenishment rules.
Schedule quality
Schedule narrative
The period explanation of status, path movement, changes, risks, assumptions, and forecast impacts accompanying a schedule file.
In practiceReconcile the narrative to the native schedule and change log; neither should be accepted in isolation.
Earned value
Schedule Performance Index SPI
Earned value divided by planned value, indicating progress efficiency against the time-phased plan.
In practiceSPI trends toward 1.0 at completion and does not replace critical-path or forecast analysis.
Schedule quality
Schedule quality
The degree to which a schedule is comprehensive, logically sound, credible, traceable, and maintained under control.
In practiceCombine metrics with professional review of scope, means and methods, status evidence, and contract requirements.
Risk & recovery
Schedule risk analysis SRA
A quantitative assessment that models uncertainty and risk events to produce a distribution of possible completion outcomes.
In practiceValidate the deterministic network first; simulation cannot repair missing scope or broken logic.
Earned value
Schedule variance SV
In EVM, earned value minus planned value, expressed in budget units rather than calendar days.
In practiceDo not describe EVM schedule variance as time delay; pair it with network schedule analysis.
Primavera P6
Secondary baseline
An additional P6 comparison baseline available alongside the primary baseline.
In practiceUse secondary and tertiary baselines for controlled comparisons, not to obscure which baseline governs.
Risk & recovery
Sensitivity
The measured relationship between uncertainty in an input and variation in the modeled completion outcome.
In practiceFocus mitigation on influential drivers that management can actually change.
Schedule quality
Soft constraint
A constraint that influences dates or float without fixing both sides of an activity absolutely.
In practiceTreat soft constraints as exceptions that still need an owner, reason, and review.
Primavera P6
Start milestone
A P6 zero-duration activity type representing the beginning of an event or phase.
In practiceGive it successor logic and a defensible driver unless it is the authorized project start.
CPM mechanics
Start-to-finish relationship SF
A rarely used logic tie in which the successor finish is driven by the predecessor start.
In practiceRequire a clear operational explanation because this relationship is frequently misunderstood.
CPM mechanics
Start-to-start relationship SS
A logic tie in which the successor start is driven by the predecessor start, subject to any lag.
In practicePair overlapping work with finish logic where needed so the successor cannot remain open after its driver finishes.
Statusing & forecasting
Store Period Performance
A P6 process that preserves period-specific actual units and costs for time-phased reporting.
In practicePost periods under a controlled calendar and reconcile corrections rather than overwriting history silently.
Contract time
Substantial completion
The contractual stage at which the work is sufficiently complete for its intended use, subject to the governing definition.
In practiceModel the required inspections, commissioning, occupancy, training, documentation, and turnover that precede it.
Statusing & forecasting
Suspend and resume
P6 activity dates used to represent a period during which progress stopped and later restarted.
In practiceRecord the operational reason and supporting evidence; suspension dates affect remaining work and duration interpretation.
Primavera P6
Task dependent activity
A P6 activity type scheduled with the activity calendar rather than each assigned resource calendar.
In practiceUse it for most construction tasks when the activity work pattern controls the dates.
Delay & disruption
Time impact analysis TIA
A prospective method that inserts a modeled change or delay fragment into an appropriate contemporaneous schedule to estimate its effect.
In practiceUse the schedule required by the contract and method, and disclose fragnet logic, status, assumptions, and scheduling settings.
Contract time
Time is of the essence
A contract provision emphasizing that timely performance is a material obligation.
In practiceApply it with counsel and the full agreement; a schedule analyst should not convert the phrase into a legal conclusion.
Delay & disruption
Time-slice windows analysis
A period-by-period method that examines contemporaneous schedule updates and changing critical paths.
In practiceChoose windows based on meaningful project changes and validate each update before relying on it.
CPM mechanics
Total float TF
The calculated time an activity may move before it affects the relevant project or milestone completion condition.
In practiceReview the float distribution and its movement between updates, not only activities at zero float.
Primavera P6
Units percent complete
A P6 percentage based on actual units compared with at-completion units.
In practiceUse it only when resource units are complete, current, and aligned with the progress-measurement basis.
Primavera P6
User-defined field UDF
A configurable P6 field for organization-specific text, dates, numbers, indicators, or classifications.
In practiceDocument data type, allowed values, owner, and intended reports before rolling a UDF across projects.
Earned value
Variance at Completion VAC
Budget at Completion minus Estimate at Completion.
In practiceExplain the operational causes and confidence range behind the forecast variance.
Schedule quality
Vertical traceability
Consistency between detailed activities, summary schedules, milestones, reports, and governing commitments.
In practiceReconcile every executive date to a supported lower-level path and every contractual milestone.
Primavera P6
WBS summary activity
A P6 activity type that summarizes dates from activities within the same WBS branch.
In practiceDo not rely on relationships to a WBS Summary activity; Oracle notes that those relationships are ignored during scheduling.
CPM mechanics
Work breakdown structure WBS
A hierarchical decomposition of project scope used to organize responsibility, deliverables, and schedule detail.
In practiceA WBS should follow the way the project will be managed and reconciled to scope, cost, and reporting structures.
Earned value
Work package
A detailed, measurable block of authorized work within a control account.
In practiceDefine clear scope, schedule, budget, responsible organization, and completion method.
Primavera P6
XER file XER
Oracle’s proprietary text exchange format for P6 project and enterprise data.
In practiceRecord source, export version, timestamp, checksum, import options, and post-import validation; an XER is not a simple spreadsheet.
