--- title: "Project baseline: what it is and why you need one | attendo" description: "What a project baseline is, why you need one to measure schedule variance, an example, when to change it and the mistake of resetting it every time you slip." url: "https://attendo.me/en/glossary/project-baseline" lang: "en" --- # Baseline: the snapshot of the plan that shows how far you have drifted Also known as: Project baseline · schedule baseline A baseline is the saved copy of a project’s approved plan, with its dates and durations. It lets you compare what was planned with what is actually happening at any time. ## Why you need one A live plan gets updated every week. If you only keep the current plan, you will never know how far it has moved: the delay disappears the moment someone changes the dates. The baseline is the reference nobody touches. ## An example Installing a packaging line is approved with a handover date of April 30, and in June it is still open. The baseline shows where the variance started: in the electrical work, which ran three weeks over. Not in commissioning, which is what everyone remembers. ## When to change it Only when the commitment changes: the customer expands the scope or agrees to a new date. Then you save a new baseline, and it is worth writing down why it changed. ## The usual mistake Resetting the baseline every time the project slips. That way the project is always “on schedule” and nobody learns anything. You change it because the agreement changed, not because reality did. ## In attendo On the [Gantt chart](https://attendo.me/en/modules/gantt-chart) you save a snapshot of the approved plan and compare planned against actual. Progress and running cost come from the [project](https://attendo.me/en/modules/projects) documents your team closes. - [attendo Projects](https://attendo.me/en/projects) ## Where it is used in attendo ### Modules - [Gantt chart](https://attendo.me/en/modules/gantt-chart): Plan projects and construction jobs with dependencies and a baseline - [Projects and construction](https://attendo.me/en/modules/projects): Jobs and plant shutdowns with line items, progress and live cost ### Industries that use these modules - [Energy and renewables](https://attendo.me/en/industries/energy-renewables) - [Contractors, construction and engineering](https://attendo.me/en/industries/contractors) - [Consulting and professional services](https://attendo.me/en/industries/professional-services) - [And any other business](https://attendo.me/en/industries) ## Related terms Projects ### Gantt chart Project timeline · schedule chart A Gantt chart is a project schedule drawn as bars: each task takes one row, and its bar starts and ends on its planned dates. Projects ### Task dependencies Finish-to-start · predecessors Task dependencies are the rules that tie the start or finish of one task to another, such as painting not starting until the plaster has dried. Projects ### Timesheet Time entries · project time tracking A timesheet is the record of the time each person spends on each project, task or customer, used to know what each job costs and what is billable. ### On the blog #### Project baseline: spot the drift while you can still fix it Almost every project drifts. The problem is finding out at the wrap-up meeting, when there is nothing left to fix. A baseline lets you see it in week two, not in the final week. 4 min read [See all 53 glossary terms](https://attendo.me/en/glossary) ## Shall we look at it with your data? We will show you how what you just read works in attendo, with your own assets, tickets and customers. If it is not a fit, we will tell you. - With your operation, not a generic demo - A real person from our team replies - No cold calls afterwards Would you rather talk first? - Phone [+34 910 053 530](tel:+34910053530) - Email [sales@attendo.me](mailto:sales@attendo.me) - Monday to Thursday 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Friday 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM (Spain time)