1. Tom Lindstrom TL TooLs, Inc. TL@TLTooLs.net 847-525-2090
MILESTONE TREND ANALYSIS CHARTS Visualizing a Project’s Progress and Planning
Tom Lindstrom
TL TooLs, Inc.

2. Project Milestones and MTA Charts
Project Milestones with specific completion criteria provides:
an indication of the project’s progress
a method to coordinate dependent tasks
assurance that artifacts, required by the project, have been produced
Often associated with a formal decision whether to fund next project phase
Tracking the changes to milestone planning during the project provides:
historical perspective when evaluating the current project status
insight on the accuracy of the project’s planning
insight on the volatility of the project’s scope
insight on the risk to the project schedule and product quality
a historical record available for the project’s post mortem
a historical record available for the planning of future projects
MTA Charts:
display the past and current planning for past and future project milestones
graph the milestone planning history graphically; providing easier analysis

3. Chart from 7/14/2006
A plotted line shows a milestone’s historical planning.
The X axis indicates the milestone’s planning date.
The Y axis indicates the planned milestone date.
A milestone has occurred when the milestone’s line reaches the Milestone Reached line.
The lower right half of the chart can be used to document the cause for adjustments to milestones.
Milestone is delayed an additional week every week.
Adjusted to support approved requirements (“Xyz” functionality).
Incorporated new “Xyz” functionality with no delay.

4. Chart from 11/10/2006 Milestones can be added at any time.
Added system integration milestone.
The “Design Done” line passes through the “Milestone Reached” line indicating the milestone planning was not adjusted to reflect the late finish of the design.
Engineering has not provided a new date.
Adjusted to support approved requirements (“Xyz” functionality).
Incorporated new “Xyz” functionality with no delay.

5. Chart from 1/19/2007
Milestones not extending to the current date indicate a cancelled milestone.
Implementation of the “QRS” subsystem delayed due to resources being reassigned.
Added system integration milestone.
Engineering has not provided a new date.
Adjusted to support approved requirements (“Xyz” functionality).
Incorporated new “Xyz” functionality with no delay.

6. Final Project Chart Test 3 required to fix critical defect.
More than expected integration defects found.
Implementation of the “NOP” subsystem delayed due to resources reassigned.
Added system integration milestone.
Engineering has not provided a new date.
Adjusted to support approved requirements (“Xyz” functionality).
Incorporated new “Xyz” functionality with no delay.

7. Creating MTA Chart using an Excel Line Chart
An Excel drawing object is used to cover the grid in the lower right half of the chart.
The “Milestone Reached” indicator is created using a plotted series in the chart.

8. Visualizing a Project’s Progress and Planning
Tom Lindstrom
TL TooLs, Inc.