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(CDR-2305) Implementing the Half-step Update to Improve Project Schedule Controls

Primary Author: John J. Ciccarelli, PE CCP PSP FAACE
Co-Author(s): Michael J. Bennink, PE CCP PSP; Brian J. Furniss, PE CFCC PSP

Audience Focus: Intermediate
Application Type: Practice
Venue: 2016 AACE International Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract: Industry publications have addressed steps to technically execute the half-step update and identified basic issues relative to the causes of discrepancies, but none have addressed the significant issues of non-progress revisions to schedule logic and planned durations which alter the update schedule. This paper discusses a new Recommended Practice (“RP”) CDR-03, “Implementing the Half-step Update to Improve Project Schedule Controls.” The goal of RP CDR-03 is to develop guidelines for implementing a project controls process in schedule progress and performance assessment. The guidelines will refer to the half-step update analysis and protocols used predominantly for forensic schedule analysis of project disputes as a means of improving project schedule controls and communication. The goal of RP CDR-03 is to provide recommendations and guidelines for more effective schedule control through use of the half-step principals. This thereby improves a project management team’s understanding of project status, provides project stakeholders with accurate project status and planned forecast reports, and improves the project management team’s ability to assess critical path performance during the project to mitigate or avoid disputes.