Planning is one of the most important steps in setting your project up for success. No matter what your project is, if you put the time into planning you will find the project is easier to execute. I have managed large projects ($200 million) and small projects ($20k), and planning is a key ingredient to ensure success for projects of any size. The first step you want to do in planning is to setup a project management plan (PMP) which will allow you to cover how you are going to manage the project. You should also record your assumptions and your constraints so that you have less surprises when you execute your project.
Your project plan can be as simple as a checklist, and it can be as elaborate as a thirty page document. It should only cover the basics for what you need to manage your project. You should identify your project’s objective, budget, and schedule in the plan. Your plan should also include a list of all relevant stakeholders, and it should include a communications plan on how to deal with those stakeholders. Effective planning will save you time and money when you are executing your project, and it will help you deliver the project’s desired outcome. You should also develop a project schedule with an activity and work package view during the planning phase. Your schedule only needs to include required activities, and it doesn’t have to be complex. You should always try to use input from subject matter experts in your planning phase if possible, and you should try to cover as much as possible during planning. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Please post any comments or feedback you have.
Mandy
11/21/2015 09:30:35 pm
Very informative, I'd love to learn more on how project management can apply to small projects, like renovating a house or planning a holiday, thanks Comments are closed.
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AuthorI have managed over $1 Billion worth of projects successfully, and I have learned a lot along the way. We can make managing projects easier if we share knowledge with each other and invest in one another. Archives
March 2017
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