Resources
Guides on schedule health, the DCMA standard, and how to build schedules that actually hold.
Why project schedules slip (and what the data actually shows)
Most schedule slippage comes from a small set of structural problems that appear in the file before the project starts. Here is what they are and how to find them.
What the DCMA 14-point assessment actually checks
The DCMA 14-point assessment is the closest thing the project management industry has to a standard schedule health check. Here is what it looks for and how to pass it.
How to read a schedule health score
A schedule health score tells you more than just a number. Here is how to interpret the result, which checks matter most, and what to fix first.
How to fix negative float in Microsoft Project
Negative float means your schedule already predicts a late finish. Here is how to find it in Microsoft Project, trace the cause, and fix it step by step.
Why your critical path looks wrong in Microsoft Project (and how to fix it)
If your Microsoft Project critical path shows too many tasks, no tasks, or the wrong ones, here are the real causes and how to fix each so you can trust it again.
10 common Microsoft Project scheduling mistakes (and how to fix each one)
The most common Microsoft Project scheduling mistakes that make a timeline unreliable, why each one hurts, and the simple fix for every one.
How to tell if your project schedule is realistic: 7 quick checks
Worried your project schedule is too good to be true? Here are seven quick checks that reveal whether a timeline is realistic, and what to do if it is not.
GanttScore vs Steelray Project Analyzer: an honest comparison
GanttScore and Steelray Project Analyzer both check schedule quality against the DCMA standard. Here is how they actually differ, and which fits your situation.
How to find tasks with no predecessor or successor in Microsoft Project
Tasks with no predecessor or successor break your schedule’s logic. Here is how to find every one of them in Microsoft Project and link them correctly.
Manually scheduled vs auto scheduled in Microsoft Project: what’s the difference?
Manually scheduled and auto scheduled tasks behave very differently. Here is what each does, how to tell them apart, and which to use.
Duration vs Work in Microsoft Project: what’s the difference?
Duration and Work are not the same thing, and confusing them wrecks your schedule. Here is what each means, with a clear example.
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References and standards
Primary sources behind the checks GanttScore runs. These are the authoritative government and industry documents the DCMA assessment framework is built on.
Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules
The primary US government reference for schedule quality. Ten best practices for developing and maintaining reliable project schedules, used by federal agencies to evaluate contractor schedule submissions. The methodology behind the DCMA 14-point assessment is grounded in this standard.
Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Developing and Managing Program Costs
Companion to the Schedule Assessment Guide. Covers how schedule risk connects to cost overruns, earned value management, and integrated program performance. Relevant for programs where schedule health is tied to cost reporting requirements.
Planning and Scheduling Excellence Guide (PASEG)
The NDIA Integrated Program Management Division publishes the PASEG, which defines the Generally Accepted Scheduling Principles (GASP) used across defense and major infrastructure programs. The industry counterpart to the GAO schedule standard.