Announcing updates to the Baseline feature in Microsoft Planner
Posted inPlanner

Announcing updates to the Baseline feature in Microsoft Planner

Posted inPlanner

Microsoft Planner continues to evolve, and its latest enhancements to the Baseline feature mark a significant step forward in project management capabilities. These updates are designed to provide both administrators and users with deeper insights and more control over their project plans, making it easier to track progress, identify risks, and ensure timely delivery.

Understanding the Power of Baselines in Project Management

At its core, a baseline acts as a snapshot of your original project plan, capturing key details such as start dates, finish dates, effort, and duration. This snapshot serves as a reference point, allowing you to compare your current progress against the initial plan. For project managers and team members alike, this comparison is invaluable—it highlights where the project is on track, where delays have occurred, and where resources may be stretched thin.

With the latest updates, Microsoft Planner has expanded the scope of baseline tracking, offering a more comprehensive and actionable view of project health.

What’s New with Baselines?

  1. Plan-Level Variance Tracking
    Previously, baseline tracking focused primarily on finish date variances. Now, you can monitor start date, effort, and duration variances at the plan level. This holistic approach enables project administrators to detect early warning signs of potential issues. For example, if the cumulative effort consistently exceeds estimates, it may indicate resource overload or inefficiencies that need addressing. Similarly, tracking start date variances helps identify if key phases are delayed, potentially impacting the overall timeline.

    From a user perspective, this means greater transparency and the ability to anticipate workload changes. Team members can better understand how their tasks fit into the bigger picture and adjust their efforts accordingly.
  2. Spotlight Tab: Your Project’s Dashboard
    The introduction of the Spotlight tab is a game-changer for both admins and users. This dedicated space consolidates critical insights, making it easier to focus on what matters most:
    • Critical Path Variance: Quickly identify if tasks on the critical path are delayed. For project managers, this is crucial for risk mitigation and timely intervention.
    • Upcoming Tasks: Stay ahead by viewing tasks due soon. This helps teams prepare and allocate resources efficiently.
    • Overdue Tasks: Highlight tasks that require immediate attention, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
    • Task-Level Finish Variance: Compare actual finish dates against the baseline on a per-task basis, providing granular insights into project progress.
    This tab acts as a centralized hub for monitoring project health, empowering users to stay informed and proactive.

Availability and Getting Started

These baseline enhancements are available to users with Planner and Project Plan 3 or Planner and Project Plan 5 licenses. You can access these features through the Planner app in Microsoft Teams or via Planner for the web.

If you don’t currently have a Plan 3 or Plan 5 license, you can easily start a free 30-day trial by clicking the diamond icon within the Planner app. This trial unlocks advanced capabilities, including the Baseline feature, or you can request a license from your administrator.

How to Use the Baseline Feature Effectively

  • Create Your Baseline: Simply navigate to the Baseline button and select “Create baseline” to capture your project’s initial state.
  • Monitor Progress: Return to your baseline at any time to evaluate how your project is tracking against the original plan.
  • Leverage the Spotlight Tab: Use this tab to stay on top of critical insights such as overdue tasks, upcoming deadlines, and critical path variances.
  • Explore Task-Level Insights: The Grid view offers detailed information on task-level delays or advancements, helping teams adjust their workflows.

Impact Assessment: Admins and Users

For Project Administrators: These enhancements provide a robust toolkit for proactive project management. The ability to track multiple variance metrics at the plan level means admins can identify bottlenecks and resource issues before they escalate. The Spotlight tab consolidates essential data, reducing the time spent hunting for information and enabling faster decision-making. Additionally, the integration with Microsoft Teams and the web app ensures accessibility and collaboration across diverse teams.

For Users and Team Members: The new features foster greater clarity and accountability. By seeing upcoming and overdue tasks clearly highlighted, users can prioritize their work more effectively. Understanding how individual tasks impact the critical path helps team members appreciate the importance of their contributions and encourages timely completion. The intuitive interface and real-time insights support a more engaged and informed workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import baselines from Project Desktop or other tools?
Currently, baselines cannot be imported into Project for the web during project import.

Can I create multiple baselines?
At this time, only one baseline can be captured. To update it, you must delete the existing baseline and create a new one reflecting the current project state.

Can I export the baseline details?
Yes, project and task-level details are stored in Dataverse and can be exported from there for further analysis.

Share Your Feedback

Your input is invaluable as Microsoft continues to enhance Planner. You can share your feedback via the Planner Feedback Portal or directly within the Planner app by selecting “More” (the question mark icon) in the upper right corner, then choosing “Feedback.”

Additional Resources

With these enhancements, Microsoft Planner’s Baseline feature is not just a tool for tracking—it’s a strategic asset that empowers teams to deliver projects with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you’re an admin steering the project or a team member contributing to its success, these updates offer meaningful ways to stay aligned and achieve your goals.

Source: Microsoft



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