A tool that provides schedule component names, definitions, structural relationships and formats that support the application of a scheduling method is referred to as scheduling tool. Distinguishing the project schedule presentation from the schedule data and calculations that produce the project schedule by referring to the scheduling tool populated with project data as the schedule model.
Project management provides the scheduling tool and alternative possibilities for managing the schedule. Scheduling tool is one of the factors that influence the sequence activities process. It is part of the enterprise environmental factors to be used in developing the schedule model. Automated scheduling tools contain the schedule model and expedite the scheduling process by generating start and finish dates based on the inputs of activities, network diagrams, resources and activity durations using schedule network analysis.
It can be used in conjunction with other project management software applications as well as manual methods to perform schedule network analysis to generate an updated project schedule. Part of the project management is the develop schedule wherein this process provides a benefit once you enter schedule activities, durations, resources, resource availabilities and logical relationships into the scheduling tool, it generates a schedule model with planned dates for completing project activities.
This term is defined in the 5th edition of the PMBOK.