How do you use baseline variance analysis in Oracle Primavera to manage project delays

Question

In Oracle Primavera, I know baseline variance analysis is crucial, but I’m still figuring out how to use it effectively to manage project delays. How exactly do you track and analyze baseline variances to catch issues early and take action?

Answer 1

Primavera P6 excels at baseline management. Variance analysis allows you to monitor how your current timetable deviates from the original plan and uncover delay patterns before they snowball.

• Create the Baseline Early – Lock the project schedule before starting execution to use as a reference point.

• Show Baseline vs Current Bars – Overlay baseline bars on the Gantt chart to visually compare against the live schedule.

• Review Start/Finish Variance – Use built-in variance columns to measure shifts in task timing.

• Analyze Float Variance – Identify how much of the buffer or flexibility has been consumed per task.

• Filter by High Variance – Group or filter activities based on variance fields to detect critical schedule deviations.

• Update Actuals Regularly – Maintain accurate actual dates for dependable variance reporting.

• Generate Variance Reports – Export dashboards showing variance trends to communicate with stakeholders.

This technique enables managers to course-correct by displaying not just where delays occur but also how far they deviate from the baseline.