Lesson10.4.Checking Duration Variance

Lesson 10.4. Checking Duration Variance

Figure 10-5. Viewing duration variance

Variance is the difference between baseline information and actual information in a field. Project lists variance as either positive or negative. Negative variance indicates that tasks are ahead of schedule, and positive variance indicates that tasks are behind schedule. Negative and positive variance in resource assignments can be good or bad. For instance, although it's nice when resources finish a task ahead of time, it may also indicate that your resources have not been allocated properly.

1. Select View Views from the menu. Select Task Sheet from the dialog box and click Apply.

   Now you can see more task fields on one screen.

2. Select View You are now in a Task Variance table view.

3. Press Ctrl + G. Type 20 in the ID box and press Enter.

   Remember that the baseline values are the values you estimated when you planned the project. Compare the Start and Baseline Start fields to see if there is variance.

4. Look at the Start and Baseline Start fields for the Edit and proof text task.

   The Start and Baseline Start fields have different dates in them, indicating that there is variance.

5. Look at the Start Var. and Finish Var. fields for the task, as shown in Figure 10-5.

   There is a positive variance of 3 days in both the Start Var. field and the Finish Var. field, which means the task started late but took the estimated amount of time to complete.

QUICK REFERENCE

TO CHECK DURATION VARIANCE:

1. SELECT VIEW TASK SHEET AND CLICK APPLY.

2. SELECT VIEW

   VIEW THE TASK START AND FINISH VARIATIONS IN THE START VAR. AND FINISH VAR. FIELDS.