Forecasting One purpose of collecting data is to assess the ability to accomplish future tasks on schedule. Some scheduling systems are better equipped to provide this kind of advance information. The scheduling system should be capable of rapidly and easily incorporating information on project progress. It is desirable that a scheduling technique easily adapt to changes in the project. Cost The scheduling system should provide the required information at the lowest cost.
Cost is difficult to measure for several reasons.
For example, in a Gantt System, time standards are as much a part of the cost as is chart preparation. Yet, frequently this factor is not included in estimates of schedule cost, most likely, because, time standards are used for other purposes. Secondly, systems, which are most useful, generally cost more to operate. Thus, the proper cost statistic is not total dollar cost but rather cost per unit of utility or benefit. Cost per unit of utility or benefit is next to impossible to measure.