What does cost baseline mean?

The cost baseline is the budget approved for the project, usually broken down in some detail by cost category and cost period of time.

How do you prepare a cost baseline?

You can easily establish a great project baseline in just 6 simple steps:

  1. Step 1: Establish your scope baseline. …
  2. Step 2: Create a work breakdown structure. …
  3. Step 3: Establish your project schedule. …
  4. Step 4: Plan the total cost of your project. …
  5. Step 5: Work towards stakeholder buy-in.


What is a cost performance baseline?

The cost performance baseline is an authorized time-phased budget used to measure, monitor, and control overall cost performance on the project. It is developed as a summation of the approved budgets by time period and is typically displayed in the form of an S-curve, as is illustrated in Figure 7-3.

What is the difference between cost baseline and cost budget?

According to PMBOK, the cost baseline is a time-phased budget used as a foundation against which to compute and manage the financial subdivision of the task. The cost baseline is the authorized budget and are made through Plan Cost Management, Estimate Costs, and Determine Budget.

How do you measure baseline?

How to Create a Performance Measurement Baseline (in 5 Steps)

  1. Step 1) Develop Scope Baseline. …
  2. Step 2) Develop Schedule Baseline. …
  3. Step 3) Develop Cost Baseline. …
  4. Step 4) Determine the Performance Measures/Indicators. …
  5. Step 5) Consolidate the Three Baselines into the Performance Measurement Baseline.

What is cost baseline with example?

Example You have a task with a 10-hour duration and a single resource assigned at $20 per hour. The baseline cost for the task would be $200. When the task is 50 percent complete, the Actual Cost field will be calculated at $100.

How do you calculate cost baseline for a project?

Quote from video: The control accounts in your project. Alright. So what you are going to do basically here to come up with the project cost is take all the control accounts of your project. And see what are their

Why is baseline Important?

A baseline allows you to monitor and assess your project’s performance over time, determine whether you’re on track and within budget, get an overview of your entire project, and identify areas to improve. Without a project baseline, you can face cost overruns, scope creep, and even project failure.

What’s another word for baseline?

What is another word for baseline?

standard measure
criterion model
reference touchstone
guideline basis
example precedent

What is a baseline in a project?

By definition, a baseline in project management is a plainly outlined starting point for your project plan. In other words, a baseline is the initial plan you define together with stakeholders, bringing to light the project expectations and deliverables.

How do you create a baseline?

Baselines have two parts: a historical part which shows where we’ve been, and a forecast part that shows where we are headed if we stay on our current course. 2. The historical part should have as much data as you can get. Aim for three to five years.

What is a cost budget?

Cost budgeting is a type of budget that involves totaling all expected costs for a set period. Project managers often use cost budgeting when planning new projects. Business executives and financial professionals can use cost budgeting when creating budgets for the quarter or year.

Does cost baseline include contingency reserve?

Starting at the bottom, estimates are rolled up into the overall project estimate, and the contingency reserve is added to form the cost baseline. The cost baseline, with management reserves, is the cost budget for the project.

What is the base line?

Definition of baseline



1 : a line serving as a basis especially : one of known measure or position used (as in surveying or navigation) to calculate or locate something. 2a : either of the lines on a baseball field that lead from home plate to first base and third base and are extended into the outfield as foul lines.

What is a project budget?

A project budget is the total estimated cost of completing each project activity over each phase of a project. It’s important as it helps set expenditure expectations and is critical in getting project approval, ensuring funds are ready at the right time, and measuring performance.

What are the 4 types of cost?

Types of Costs

  • 1) Fixed costs. Costs that are unaffected by the quantity of demand. …
  • 2) Variable costs. Costs associated with a company’s output level. …
  • 3) Operating costs. …
  • 4) Direct costs. …
  • 5) Indirect costs. …
  • 1) Standard Costing. …
  • 2) Activity-Based Costing. …
  • 3) Lean Accounting.

What are the 3 types of budgets?

The three types of annual Government budgets based on estimates are Surplus Budget, Balanced Budget, and Deficit Budget.