Disclosed herein is a computer implemented scheduling method comprising: accessing project data from computer readable storage media. The project data comprises work item data defining a plurality of work items to be scheduled, and release data defining one or more releases into which one or more of the plurality of work items are to be scheduled. The method comprises processing, using a computer processor, the project data to schedule strictly assigned work items by identifying strictly assigned work items, a strictly assigned work item having a particular release into which the strictly assigned work item needs to be scheduled; and for each strictly assigned work item identified, scheduling the strictly assigned work item into the release specified for that strictly assigned work item.