A detailed timeline will help keep your project on track and ensure that no important elements have been left out.

A program timeline shows when the proposed activities are to be completed, the sequence of their completion, and by whom tasks are to be completed in order to satisfy the program’s desired objectives. A detailed program timeline also provides the basis for an action plan or guide to managing a project.

When creating your timeline consider how much time it may take for the supervision of data collectors, the transcription of qualitative interviews, data entry and quality control, and preliminary data analysis. Add a buffer to this projected timeline to take into account unanticipated difficulties.

Timelines can be as detailed as you want but at a minimum should include:

• Background research;
• Baseline data collection;
• Pilot project start and end date;
• Materials development;
• Training;
• Full-implementation start and end date;
• Evaluation timing;
• Project reporting and dissemination.