A project manager leading a software project for power-plant maintenance is analyzing performance data to forecast potential future schedule slippage. What should they do?

Trend analysis is the correct choice because it involves examining project performance over time to determine if performance is improving or deteriorating. In this scenario, the project manager is looking at past performance data to forecast future schedule slippage, which is the core function of trend analysis. Quality control analysis focuses on verifying deliverables meet requirements, not forecasting schedule. Schedule analysis is a broader term encompassing many techniques, but trend analysis is the specific technique for forecasting based on historical data. Root cause analysis (RCA) is used to identify the underlying reasons for problems that have already occurred, not to forecast future issues.