Episode 8: For the Love of Scheduling with Lisa Hastings
Release: 2/27/26
February is our month of EVM love, so we’re calling this one—affectionately—“For the Love of Scheduling.” In this episode, Amber Young and Barbara Phillips are joined by Lisa Hastings, a respected scheduling leader with two decades of experience across defense programs, development efforts, and earned value environments.
This conversation steps back from day-to-day mechanics and looks at scheduling through a wider lens: why it remains foundational to program performance, what distinguishes a credible schedule from one that simply looks good on paper, and how strong schedulers contribute far beyond maintaining timelines. Lisa brings a practitioner’s perspective to the evolving role of the scheduling analyst, highlighting the blend of analytical thinking, technical understanding, and communication skills that modern programs demand.
The episode also touches on the realities of building scheduling capability within organizations — from developing entry-level talent to shaping career paths — along with how teams should think about schedule quality, metrics, and the intent behind common assessment approaches. Rather than treating measures as rigid scorecards, the discussion centers on how they can inform judgment, decision-making, and program insight.
We also explore the broader professional landscape of scheduling, including the influence of industry guidance such as the Planning & Scheduling Excellence Guide (PASEG), a widely used resource developed collaboratively by government and industry. For listeners looking to deepen their understanding of scheduling principles and best practices, PASEG serves as an important reference point in the discipline.
Finally, the conversation turns toward the future, reflecting on how data, tools, and emerging technologies like AI are reshaping how schedules are analyzed, interpreted, and used — while reinforcing the enduring value of human expertise in turning information into action.
Whether you’re a scheduler, program manager, CAM, or simply someone who depends on schedules to make decisions, this episode offers a thoughtful and engaging perspective on why scheduling continues to sit at the heart of effective program management.
