Episode 20: IMS Data Dictionary+ with Janay Bloch, Scheduling Sharp Shooter takes listeners deep into the world of integrated scheduling, schedule health, and the structures that make complex programs understandable, traceable, and actionable. Amber Young and Barbara Phillips are joined live from the Empower Users Group, EUG, conference in Florida by scheduling expert Janay Bloch of ClearPlan Consulting. The conversation explores how strong scheduling practices go far beyond timelines and dates — touching everything from EVMS integration and compliance to communication, forecasting, internal surveillance, and organizational maturity. At the center of the discussion is Janay’s passionate advocacy for the IMS Data Dictionary as one of the most important — and often overlooked — communication tools in scheduling. The episode examines how schedule architecture, field mapping, standardized coding structures, and clearly defined data relationships help programs create accurate, credible schedules that can actually support decision-making. The group discusses how integrated data structures improve traceability across contractors, support IPMDAR and DOE JSON CPP reporting, and create shared understanding between teams, subcontractors, analysts, and government reviewers. The conversation also dives into schedule realism and health metrics, including the evolution of the DCMA 14-Point Assessment, out-of-sequence logic, current execution analysis, and the importance of weekly statusing. Janay shares perspectives from both industry and government experience, including compliance and surveillance work, emphasizing that reliable earned value performance depends on reliable schedules. Throughout the episode, the hosts reflect on the practical realities of schedule execution, CAM engagement, critical path analysis, and what happens when program data loses credibility. Blending technical depth with candid conversation, the episode highlights how disciplined scheduling practices create stronger forecasting, better integration, and more trustworthy program insight — while also reinforcing the growing importance of communication, transparency, and data literacy across modern project controls environments.
