In project scheduling, what is meant by milestones?

Milestones in project scheduling are significant points that indicate the completion of key deliverables. They serve as markers to track progress and ensure that the project is on schedule. Each milestone represents a major event or achievement within the project timeline, allowing project managers and stakeholders to assess the current status and make informed decisions regarding next steps or adjustments needed.

These milestones help in defining critical checkpoints and can facilitate communication amongst team members and stakeholders regarding the advancement of the project. For example, the completion of a prototype, reaching a significant phase of construction, or achieving regulatory approvals are typical milestones within various projects.

The other options describe different project management concepts. Dates marking the beginning of a project phase refer to the start of various segments of work but do not reflect completion. Tasks requiring multiple resources point to the complexities of specific activities without indicating any completion status. Finally, benchmarks for measuring contractor performance relate to evaluating contractor contributions but do not directly signify milestones of deliverable completion. Each of these aspects plays a different role in project management, but only milestones specifically denote the accomplishment of key deliverables.