Can the baseline of a project be changed?

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Since adjusting the project baseline is done in the early phases of the project, it is possible to change the project planning baseline in the project planning phase, you may be wondering if you can update it later to reflect specific changes. Technically, yes you can, but remember that changing the project baseline can lead you off track and leave you without a clear reference point to measure performance.

It is common practice to update a project baseline only when significant changes occur . For example, if something is added to the project scope, the schedules and costs may need to be updated as well.

If you decide to change the approved project baseline, save the previous version so you can compare baselines and accurately determine project performance.

How to set a project baseline and determine your trajectory in 4 steps
Setting a baseline may seem easy at first: you estimate the scope, costs, and schedule of the project and cross your fingers, hoping that the predictions are accurate enough to serve the purpose. The reality is different: you have to take into account compliance directors email list numerous factors and use several tools to establish a realistic and useful baseline for the project.

We'll walk you through the process and show you how ClickUp , an all-in-one productivity and project management platform, can help you set actionable project baselines.

Step 1: Determine the scope of your project
Your journey toward creating a project baseline begins with determining your project scope . This means defining everything your project entails , including tasks, subtasks, deliverables, potential risks, and constraints. In some cases, you may also want to address exclusions—that is, specifying what your project does not include.

By outlining the project scope, you'll set clear boundaries, keep the project on track, spot potential risks early on, and manage stakeholder expectations like a pro.

The best way to determine the scope of your project is to write a scope statement . This valuable document will serve as the foundation for your project plan. It should be comprehensive and concise, leaving no room for misunderstanding or assumptions.

When it comes to formatting, many project managers choose to use bullet points for easy reading and navigation, but you and your team may prefer a different layout to suit your working style and needs.

Explore the scope of projects with ClickUp
To make the entire scope statement process more manageable, you can use some of ClickUp’s fantastic tools to craft top-notch scope statements.

Creating a scope statement is a team effort, so you need top-notch collaboration options. Luckily, ClickUp has plenty of them. For example, you can use ClickUp Whiteboards , digital canvases designed to take real-time collaboration to new levels.