The original milestones were as markers used on public roads and helped the travelers determine where they are and whether they are on schedule. A Milestone in Project Management is used to signify Introduction specific point during the lifecycle of the project. A point may be the start or finish of the project or any other significant occurrence which the project deemed as valuable. Much like their original use, a Project Milestone Template Excel helps the PM determine whether the project is on track. • Contractual milestones: These milestones appear in the contract (or the ), and successfully reaching this milestone usually means that a payment will be transferred from the client • Critical path milestones: Every project has a critical path (which can and will change), and these milestones are a part of it. Since they are a part of the critical path, their importance is more than those of the other milestones in terms of project completion • Quality milestones: Since reaching a certain milestone doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of the deliverables has been met, these milestones aim at ensuring the quality standards have been met • Progress milestones: The most common type, which may also be one of the three types mentioned above.

These usually include the start and finish milestones, deliverables and phase start/finish milestones. This template requires some set-up time, but once this is done it is quite simple to update. The contractual project milestone template excel presents the milestones on a timeline (alternating one above and one below the timeline), and if the date or milestone name is changed, the timeline is automatically updated. The milestones are all contractual in nature, and completing them usually means that a certain payment is due.

This section has some useful project management templates. These are ready to use templates that you can download and start using. With most of the Excel templates, you will also find links to the tutorials on how these have been created.

In order to compare the planned vs. The actual, a baseline timeline is required to be frozen and then compared with an up-to-date one (in 2 separate PPT slides). In order to add new milestones follow the steps listed at the bottom of this document. This template displays the milestones in both a table form and a timeline chart. The milestones all have unique numbers, names, due dates, actual completed dates, status, and comments. The status is updated automatically: either it presents that the milestone is “On Time” or in “Delay”.

The status is on time if the due date and actual date are the same or if the actual is earlier than the due date, and in delay, if the actual date is past the due date. The timeline section is then manually updated with colored cells (Green / Red) according to the two date columns. In order to add new milestone rows, follow these steps –. • Choose the cells of the last row (In the template attached they are A13 to T13), and then drag the row down, adding as many rows as are required.

The formula in column E should function in the new rows as well • Now delete the content in the other columns, and add the details of the new milestones • Colour in the cells of the timeline in green for the due date week, and in red for the actual week if it is in delay • It is also recommended to choose the new cells which were added, and change the border to “All Borders” in the “Home” tab. • Add the details of the new milestone to the “Milestone Details” table in row 12 (Columns A and B) • In the “Do Not Update” table located rows 46 to 54 (columns B-D) drag the last row down one row, in order to extend the formulas one row down • In the row which was added, in column D - change the formula so that the height is -10 (minus 10): =IF(C55',-10,'). If a new row is added, then change that one to 10 (plus 10) • Choose the chart area, and go to the “Design” tab. Click on the “Select Data” button, and the following menu will appear – • In the Legend Entries section choose the “Date” series, and click on Edit. The following menu will appear – • In the “Series Value” window: Change $C$54 to $C$55, and click on “OK” • Do the same for the “Activity” series: Change $D$54 to $D$55, and click on “OK” – • In the “Data Source” menu, in the “Horizontal” area, click on the “Edit” button – • The following menu will appear - • Change $B$54 to $B$55, and click on “OK” • Repeat as necessary.