Schedule Delay Analysis Template for Project Management

Key benefits & value for the buyer

The Schedule delay analysis template translates scattered schedule updates into a clear, defensible picture of time impact. Its features are designed to solve the most common pain points finance and project teams face:

• Reduce dispute time: Produce a consistent method of analysis to support claims and negotiations without repeated manual recalculation.
• Save consultant fees: Small teams can conduct reliable delay assessments in-house using a tested Excel workflow.
• Improve decision speed: Management gets fast what-if scenarios showing how different delays change completion dates.
• Maintain audit trails: All inputs and calculations are transparent, exportable, and printable for dispute resolution.

Use cases & real-life scenarios

Construction contract claim

A contractor logs multiple supplier delays and site access problems. Import the baseline and monthly updates, assign delay causes (supplier, client, weather), and the template produces a time-impact analysis that shows which delays consumed critical float and how many days of EOT are reasonable to claim.

Project controls reporting

The project control team runs a weekly update: the template recalculates the critical path and highlights tasks that turned critical after recent delays. Export charts for the steering committee and attach the delay-cause matrix to the progress report.

Audit or forensic review

During a dispute, auditors need a clean, reproducible analysis. The template documents assumptions, lists revisions, and timestamps inputs so an independent reviewer can follow the exact logic used to quantify delay impacts.

Who is this product for?

The template is built for accountants, data analysts, project managers, claims consultants, and companies that need professional Excel templates and financial/operational data analysis services. It’s particularly suitable for:

• Small-to-medium construction firms without dedicated claims software
• PMOs and finance teams requiring integrated schedule-cost impact summaries
• Consultants and auditors preparing forensic schedule assessments
• Companies seeking to standardize delay analysis across multiple projects

How to choose the right template options

This template offers optional components and small configuration choices. Choose based on:

• Complexity of your schedule: For CPM schedules with linked logic, use the full template with delay attribution and critical-path recalculation. For simpler milestone-based projects, the light version is faster.
• Data source: If you export from Primavera or MS Project, use the CSV import sheet. Native Excel schedules work directly.
• Macros and automation: Enable macros for automated chart refresh and report export. If your IT policy disables macros, the template also runs in manual mode.

Quick comparison with typical alternatives

Compared to manual spreadsheet work: this template standardizes methods, reduces human errors, and saves hours per update. Compared to specialized software: it’s lower cost, easier to deploy, and integrates with existing Excel-based reporting. If you need enterprise-scale multi-project controls, a dedicated scheduling system may be appropriate — but for single-project claims and routine time-impact analysis, this template offers the best balance of speed and rigor.

Best practices & tips to get maximum value

• Keep a clean baseline schedule file and separate it from monthly updates to preserve auditability.
• Use consistent delay cause categories across projects to enable portfolio-level analysis.
• Validate linked task logic before importing — a simple task with wrong predecessors can misdirect the critical path.
• Enable macros for automated reports, but review the workbook’s calculations after first run to confirm assumptions.
• If you prefer, purchase the template and add ProXlsx hourly customization to map your company’s standard delay codes and reporting layout.

Common mistakes when buying/using schedule delay templates and how to avoid them

• Mistake: Expecting a one-click legal verdict. Fix: Use the template to create a defendable analysis, then combine with contractual review and expert opinion.
• Mistake: Feeding inconsistent update formats. Fix: Standardize the update export; use the provided import mapping sheet.
• Mistake: Ignoring float and logic changes. Fix: Always review critical-path shifts after applying each delay event.

Product specifications

• File type: .xlsx (Excel workbook)
• Compatibility: Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Microsoft 365 (Windows & Mac — macros optional)
• Sheets included: Instructions, Data Import, Baseline Schedule, Updated Schedule, Delay Events, Analysis Dashboard, Charts & Reports
• Automation: Optional VBA macros for chart refresh, report export, and CSV mapping
• Language: English (templates use standard date formats; regional settings supported)
• Usage notes: Keep backups before running automated procedures; mapping sheet supports CSV export from Primavera/MS Project

Frequently asked questions