What is re-baselining in project management?

Re-baselining in project management refers specifically to the process of creating a new baseline for the project when the original plan has become invalid due to changes in the project environment or scope. This can occur for various reasons, such as significant changes in project deliverables, a revision of timelines due to unforeseen delays, changes in resource availability, or other significant alterations to project parameters that affect the initial baseline.

A new baseline sets a fresh reference point against which project performance can be measured, allowing project managers to assess progress accurately and make informed decisions moving forward. This ensures that the project team has a clear understanding of the new goals and parameters after changes have been implemented.

In contrast, while reassessing project goals after a delay, changing resource allocations, and updating stakeholder expectations are important aspects of project management, they do not specifically encapsulate the concept of re-baselining, which focuses on establishing a new foundational measurement against which the project's progress will be tracked.