Building the Baseline
The baseline will be used for control throughout the project, and variances from the baseline will become key performance indicators (KPI) of success. Don’t be confused by terminology regarding baselines: the cost baseline is the same as the schedule baseline.

This graph shows an example of the estimated cumulative baseline for a simple project as it progresses from 0% to 100% completion over 12 months. The value of work planned is the number of examinations (work delivered) and that value is spread over the 12 month timeline.

The baseline is shown for the entire planned life of the project. This graph also shows a tracking of actual work accomplishment against the baseline for the first four months of the project.

The graph vividly shows the difference between planned work and actual work accomplishment (or earned value) – exactly what we need to know if we are going to try to control the project.