According to the PMBOK® Guide, the process of Develop Schedule is the iterative task of analyzing activity sequences, durations, resource requirements, and schedule constraints to create the project schedule model for project execution and monitoring and controlling.
Purpose: This process integrates all previous time-management data—such as the activity list (Define Activities), the network diagram (Sequence Activities), and resource needs (Estimate Activity Resources) — to generate a schedule model with planned dates for completing project activities.
Key Tools: This process often utilizes techniques like Critical Path Method (CPM), Resource Leveling, and Schedule Compression (Crashing or Fast Tracking) to ensure the schedule is realistic and aligns with project constraints.
Output: The primary output is the Schedule Baseline and the Project Schedule.
Analysis of other options:
B. Control Schedule: This is the process of monitoring the status of the project to update the project schedule and manage changes to the schedule baseline. It happens during execution, not when initially analyzing sequences and durations to build the model.
C. Estimate Activity Durations: This is a prerequisite process where you estimate the number of work periods needed to complete individual activities. It provides data to the Develop Schedule process but does not perform the final integration of constraints and sequences.
D. Define Activities: This is the very first step where you identify and document the specific actions to be performed to produce project deliverables. It does not involve analyzing sequences or constraints.
Per PMI standards, Develop Schedule is the " culmination " of the planning activities for the Schedule Management knowledge area, as it pulls all variables together into a finalized timeline.
