The Schedule module is an essential tool for construction management, designed to enhance project efficiency. It allows teams to allocate resources effectively and set realistic timelines while facilitating seamless collaboration through real-time updates and notifications.
Creating a Schedule
When a project is created, the Main Project Schedule is automatically generated and published. This schedule includes the Project Commencement and Project Completion Dates that were input during the project build-out process.
To get started, from the left-hand navigation menu, select your Project, then select Schedule from the left-hand navigation menu.
On the top right-hand side, click Create New Schedule. You will be prompted to create a new schedule manually or import a schedule.
Note: Ingenious supports importing Excel, Primavera, and Microsoft Project files.
Schedule Overview Page
Save as Draft and Publish Schedule: The schedule will be in "Draft mode" upon default. This will only be viewable to you. Draft mode allows for changes without finalizing or publishing the schedule. Click "Publish Schedule" for execution and to share with both internal and external members.
Activities and Milestones:
Activities: These are specific tasks with a start and end date that need to be performed to achieve the project goals. For example, "Create Schedule" or "Engage Team Resources."
Milestones: These represent key points or events in the project timeline. Milestones often mark the completion of a significant phase or deliverable (e.g., "Lease Action Request").
Connecting activities and milestones helps define the workflow and ensure all dependencies are clear.
Options in the Dropdown Menu
The "Actions" dropdown menu includes:
View the Critical Path: Highlights the critical path in the schedule, identifying tasks that directly impact the project's timeline.
Add Schedule Template: Allows the user to apply predefined schedule templates for quicker setup.
Lock Baseline: Locks the initial Baseline Dates as a reference point for tracking progress or deviations.
Rename: Provides the option to rename the schedule.
Timeline: Offers a general overview of when the schedule was started, completed, baseline locking vs. unlocking and general actions.
Discard Changes: Cancels any unsaved modifications to the schedule.
Tabs and Timeframe Selection
The tabs (Today, Day, Week, Month, Quarter) allow users to zoom into different timeframes for granular or high-level views of the schedule.
Connecting an Activity or Milestone
There are two ways to connect an activity or milestone.
First, you can simply drag and connect them directly on the Gantt chart for a quick and intuitive setup.
Alternatively, you can click on the activity or milestone to open its detailed view.
From there, navigate to the Connected Activities section, where you can efficiently manage and configure the connections.
Predecessor/Successor Relationships:
Predecessors: These are tasks or activities that must be completed before a subsequent activity (the successor) can begin. For example, "Activity 1" (Predecessor) might need to finish before "Activity 2" (Successor) starts.
Successors: These are activities that depend on the completion of a preceding task. Once the predecessor is complete, the successor can proceed.
Connected Activities:
The "Add Connection" dialog box allows users to link two activities by defining their relationship. This is part of establishing dependencies, which help define the sequence and constraints between tasks.
Fields in the Dialog Box:
Activity 1: The first activity in the relationship (the predecessor).
Activity 2: The second activity to connect (the successor).
Connection Type: Specifies the nature of the relationship between the two tasks. Common types include:
Finish-to-Start (FS): The successor cannot start until the predecessor is completed (most common type).
Start-to-Start (SS): The successor cannot start until the predecessor starts.
Finish-to-Finish (FF): The successor cannot finish until the predecessor finishes.
Start-to-Finish (SF): The successor cannot finish until the predecessor starts.
Float: This is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed without affecting the overall project timeline. A float of
0.00 Dayindicates that there is no flexibility in the schedule.
Predecessor: A task that must be completed before another task (the successor) can begin.
Successor: A task that follows and depends on the completion of a predecessor task.
Connected Activities: The tasks that are interlinked based on their dependencies, defining the sequence of execution.
Milestones: Significant events or checkpoints in the schedule that mark progress or the completion of phases.
Why These Connections Matter:
Connecting activities and milestones ensures that the project timeline is logical, with clear dependencies. This helps in:
Identifying the critical path, which shows the sequence of tasks that directly impact the project’s end date.
Managing delays effectively by understanding their impact on subsequent tasks.
Optimizing resource allocation and scheduling for efficient execution.
Now that you understand the basic functions of the Schedule module you are ready to publish you schedule and share it with internal project members as well as collaborating vendors. You can find in-depth information on this in our How to Navigate the Schedule help article.