Method and system for analyzing schedule trends

1. A method for determining a variance trend in schedule data, comprising:

retrieving schedule data from a database, the schedule data comprising:

a task description of a task; and

a plurality of milestones associated with the task, the milestones comprising a baseline milestone associated with a baseline deadline, a first updated milestone associated with a first updated deadline, and a second updated milestone associated with a second updated deadline;

calculating, by a processor, a first variance by comparing the first updated deadline to the baseline deadline;

calculating, by the processor, a second variance by comparing the second updated deadline to the baseline deadline, the first variance associated with a time prior to that of the second variance;

automatically determining, by the processor, the variance trend in schedule data that indicates a change in variance by subtracting the second variance from the first variance, a positive variance trend indicating that the first and second updated deadlines are approaching the baseline deadline; and

automatically generating a display representing the variance trend.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of milestones further comprises an actual milestone associated with a completion time; and

further comprising:

automatically determining a third variance by comparing the completion time to at least one of the first updated deadline, second updated deadline, and baseline deadline; and

automatically displaying a third indicator associated with the third variance.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display includes a trend indicator representative of the variance trend.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving from a user a request to determine the variance trend in schedule data.

5. A system for determining a variance trend in schedule data, comprising:

a records manager comprising a computer processor and operable to retrieve schedule data stored in a database, the schedule data comprising:

a task description of a task; and

a plurality of milestones associated with the task, the milestones comprising a baseline milestone associated with a baseline deadline, a first updated milestone associated with a first updated deadline, and a second updated milestone associated with a second updated deadline;

an analyzer comprising a computer processor and operable to:

calculate a first variance by comparing the first updated deadline to the baseline deadline;

calculate a second variance by comparing the second updated deadline to the baseline deadline, the first variance associated with a time prior to that of the second variance; and

automatically determine the variance trend in schedule data that indicates a change in variance by subtracting the second variance from the first variance, a positive variance trend indicating that the first and second updated deadlines are approaching the baseline deadline; and

a display manager operable to automatically generate a display representing the variance trend.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein:

the plurality of milestones further comprises an actual milestone associated with a completion time;

the analyzer is further operable to automatically determine a third variance by comparing the completion time to at least one of the first updated deadline, second updated deadline, and baseline deadline; and

the display manager is further operable to automatically display a third indicator associated with the third variance.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the display includes a trend indicator representative of the variance trend.

8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising an interface operable to receive from a user a request to determine the variance trend in schedule data.

9. Logic for determining a variance trend in schedule data, the logic embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

retrieve schedule data from a database, the schedule data comprising:

a task description of a task; and

a plurality of milestones associated with the task, the milestones comprising a baseline milestone associated with a baseline deadline, a first updated milestone associated with a first updated deadline, and a second updated milestone associated with a second updated deadline; and

calculate a first variance by comparing the first updated deadline to the baseline deadline;

calculate a second variance by comparing the second updated deadline to the baseline deadline, the first variance associated with a time prior to that of the second variance;

automatically determine the variance trend in schedule data that indicates a change in variance by subtracting the second variance from the first variance, a positive variance trend indicating that the first and second updated deadlines are approaching the baseline deadline; and

automatically generate a display representing the variance trend.

10. The logic of claim 9 , wherein

the plurality of milestones further comprises an actual milestone associated with a completion time; and

the code is further operable:

automatically determine a third variance by comparing the completion time to at least one of the first updated deadline, second updated deadline, and baseline deadline; and

automatically display a third indicator associated with the third variance.

11. The logic of claim 9 , wherein the display includes a trend indicator representative of the variance trend.

12. The logic of claim 9 , wherein the code is further operable to receive from a user a request to determine the variance trend in schedule data.