What is a Project Baseline? And Project Baselining?

A new Project Plan needs a Baseline. It's how we keep ourselves honest, as Project Managers. But, what is a Project Baseline?

A baseline is the final, approved version of the project plan, its schedule, budget, and scope statement. It is the version against which you will measure all progress and evolution of your project.

Of the many formal definitions, I like best those from:
PMBOK 7
‘The approved version of a work product used a basis for comparison to actual results.’
PRINCE2
‘Reference against which an entity is monitored and controlled.’

A Baseline is created at the start of a project or a stage in a project, to provide a basis for monitor and control.

After a significant disruption or unexpected outcome, we may also re-baseline our project.

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🎬 What to do When you get Pressure to Reduce Your Project Budget

A while back, I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list.
Note that the links are affiliated.

Chapter Markers...
00:00 - Start
00:10 - My description of baseline
00:37 - Formal definitions of baseline
00:52 - PMBOK 7 definition of baseline
01:09 - PRINCE2 definition of baseline
01:21 - Why we create a baseline
01:33 - Re-baselining
02:43 - Baselining and PM software
03:36 - ‘A baseline’ and ‘to baseline’
03:48 - What we usually baseline
04:47 - Other thing we can baseline
07:17 - My final definition of a baseline

#Project #ProjectManagement #MikeClayton

[Onlinepmcourses]

Baseline is a term we hear a lot, but let's look at formal definitions, along with what a reactive and a proactive re-baseline are. And how does the baseline work with our plan and our out-turn? And, of course, what can we apply a baseline to?

And you can now use the $ Thanks button, under the video, to make a small donation with a highlighted comment.

[neilshearer]

Mike you are a legend. I have been struggling to understand baseline form the APM Body of Knowledge and other resources, and you have cleared it up in two sentences (I did watch the rest of the video too). Thank you so much.

[LuisFlores-ghbu]

Keep up the good work, very useful videos for project management

[kamogeloadvocate]

Thank you so much. Is funny because I was busy with the Baseline on MSP and notification popped in to solve my problem. 😅

[Altafmi]

This is so pure and helpful to build the concept.
After this video, i would highly recommend performance management baseline to reviewed and modified 😊

[Tasteful_Living]

Mike, this is another great video from you

[TristanBailey]

Maybe a video with this one on margin and risk of work against baseline and actions that might be taken?

[makgalakwemokoko]

if there are subprojects set within a project "not linked" can one baseline the subproject ?