What defines a prospective analysis in project scheduling?

A prospective analysis in project scheduling focuses on examining the current state of a project to forecast its future impacts and outcomes. This type of analysis is performed while the project is still underway, allowing project managers to evaluate potential scenarios, assess risks, and make informed decisions about the project’s progress moving forward.

By using prospective analysis, project professionals can take a proactive approach, identifying challenges and opportunities before they result in delays or inefficiencies. This forward-looking perspective is essential for effective scheduling and resource management, as it allows adjustments to be made in real-time to keep the project on track.

In contrast, the other options involve retrospective aspects of project management. Determining the cause of delays typically aligns with a review of past events, while analyzing completed projects often utilizes historical data rather than forecasting current and future impacts. Therefore, these aspects do not align with the proactive nature of a prospective analysis.