What Does a “Locked Deadline” Mean and Why Is It Important?
A locked deadline means that the completion date (or key milestones) is set based on a detailed execution plan, aligned with procurement and capacity, and confirmed as a reference point for tracking progress. In other words, the execution deadline stops being a wish and becomes a control point that is checked daily through the plan, activities, and the critical path.
Locking deadlines makes sense because it:
- reduces room for improvisation and “silent” schedule shifts
- speeds up decision-making when changes arise
- identifies in advance where time is being lost (e.g., procurement, delivery, drying times, trade coordination)
- gives the buyer or investor a clear, verifiable framework for expectations
From Deadline to Plan: How a Completion Date Becomes Realistic
Locking execution deadlines always starts with turning the project into a logical sequence of work. We do not build the plan around a single word like “completion,” but around hundreds of specific activities: earthworks, reinforcement, concrete works, waterproofing, façade, joinery, installations, screeds, ceramics, system testing, technical inspection, handover.
Each activity in the plan must have:
- a realistic and verifiable duration
- prerequisites (what must be completed beforehand)
- a responsible person/team
- a link to procurement and delivery of materials or equipment
- a clear “done” criterion (how we know the activity is complete)
Only then does the “deadline” become the result of the plan—not the other way around.
Critical Path: Where the Deadline Is Truly Won or Lost
The critical path is the sequence of activities that directly determines the completion date. If any activity on the critical path is delayed, the execution deadline shifts accordingly. Therefore, locking the execution deadline essentially means locking the critical path within the plan: it must be clear which activities cannot be delayed, where there is no float, and where the highest risks lie.
In practice, the critical path most often hinges on:
- coordination between structural phases and enclosure (to enable finishing works)
- installations (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) and their testing
- delivery dates (joinery, elevators, equipment, specialty materials)
- drying times and technological breaks that cannot be “negotiated”
Locking the deadline means monitoring the critical path more frequently than the rest of the plan and applying fast corrective actions when deviations occur.
Procurement and Delivery: Deadlines Are Often Lost Before Work Begins
Many projects are delayed not because crews are not working, but because procurement is not aligned with the plan. Locking deadlines therefore includes a procurement plan parallel to the construction schedule: what is ordered and when, delivery timelines, alternative suppliers, what can be stored and when.
To stabilize execution within the plan, key deliveries have their own deadlines, checkpoints, and confirmations (e.g., order sent, advance paid, production confirmed, delivery date agreed). This reduces the risk that a supplier change or transport delay will jeopardize the overall completion date.
Locking the Deadline Through a Baseline and Change Control
Operationally, locking is most clearly visible through the baseline plan. This is the version of the schedule that represents the agreed deadline and milestone dates, and against which progress is measured. After that, the rule applies: changing a locked deadline is not routine—it is an exception.
When a change arises (e.g., design modification, additional work, material change, request for a different interior), it is not allowed to enter “informally.” Instead, an assessment is made:
- which activity changes and by how much
- whether the change impacts the critical path
- whether it affects procurement, delivery, and work sequencing
- what the options are: acceleration (additional crews, overlapping works), alternative solutions, phased handover
Only then is it decided whether to lock a new date or maintain the existing one with compensatory measures. In this way, change does not become chaos, but a controlled process.
Operational Monitoring: The Deadline Must Be Visible Through Weekly Targets
A locked deadline without weekly management is merely formal. That is why the plan is broken down to a weekly level: what must be completed this week, what comes next, who depends on whom, and what conditions must be met to start work without delay. On site, this means checking in advance:
- whether the work zone is ready (access, protection, cleanliness)
- whether drawings and details are approved
- whether materials are on site
- whether other trades have completed their part
When such checks are done consistently, the execution deadline becomes the result of good preparation—not just work intensity.
How a Buyer or Investor Recognizes That Deadlines Are Truly Locked
The clearest signal is not a “promise,” but a system: there is a phased plan, defined dates, progress tracking, and reports that explain the status transparently. Locking deadlines in the plan is also visible when the contractor clearly explains what a change means: if specifications change, time changes as well—or work organization must be adjusted to maintain the date.
For coastal projects, such as those in Rogoznica or Kaštela, it is especially important that the plan accounts from the outset for seasonal impacts, delivery logistics, and the availability of specialized teams. In such conditions, a deadline is not a coincidence—it is the result of discipline: the critical path is known, procurement is aligned with the plan, and any change to a locked deadline follows clear rules and consequences that can be explained through specific activities and dates.