Progress Updating
Recording actuals with the discipline the forecast depends on.
What it is
Recording actual dates, percent complete and remaining duration, and advancing the data date to produce the new forecast.
Why it matters
The update is only as good as its discipline. Inconsistent percent-complete types, a wrong data date, or estimated actuals produce an unreliable forecast.
In practice
- Set the data date correctly first — it is the line between actual and forecast.
- Choose the percent-complete type deliberately (Duration, Physical, Units) and apply it consistently across the programme.
- Remaining duration usually drives the forecast, not the percent typed over it — check which is controlling.
- Enter real actual dates; do not let P6 back-calculate them from percent on the data date.
Watch for
- Percent complete that does not reconcile with remaining duration.
- Actual dates falling after the data date.
- Physical and duration percent mixed across the schedule.