Glossary of Project Management Terms


S

schedule

see project schedule .

schedule analysis

see network analysis .

schedule performance index (SPI)

the ratio of work that is performed to work that is scheduled (BCWP/BCWS). See earned value .

schedule variance

(1) any difference between the scheduled completion of an activity and the actual completion of that activity.

(2) in earned value , BCWP less BCWS.

scheduled finish date (SF)

the date when the activity is scheduled to be completed using the resource-constrained scheduling process.

scheduled start date (SS)

the date when the activity is scheduled to begin using the resource-constrained scheduling process. This date is equal to or greater than the early start date .

slack

term used in PERT for float (see also total float ).

subtask

an activity that is contained within a supertask .

successor activity

any activity that exists on a common path with the activity in question and occurs after the activity in question.

supertask

an aggregate or summary activity that contains one or more activities (subtasks ) such that no subtask can begin until the supertask has begun. The supertask cannot end until all of the subtasks have ended.