A block schedule divides a project into blocks you can actually manage. The blocks are driven by constraints, by access, or simply by the sequence of the work. It gives the team a structure they can see and argue with before anyone types an activity into P6.
How to build one
- Divide the project into manageable blocks, driven by constraints, access or the sequence of the work.
- Decide which block comes first, based on what each one depends on.
- Define the work that needs to be done in each block.
- Build the logic inside the block.
- Build the logic between blocks, so a change in one shows its effect on the next.
- Check resources and crew flow, so crews can move from block to block when they are available.
Why it works
Most schedule problems are sequence problems, and sequence is easier to see at block level than in thousands of activities. When a block is held by an access date, the people in the room can see which crew is standing, and what that does to the next block.
See the block schedule in our trainingIs your own schedule healthy?
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