Project Planning

With the project definition as foundation in place, detailed planning can commence. This stage is of vital importance, since the project plan will guide the project from beginning to end. If planning is not done properly, it may have disastrous consequences on the constraints later on. The main purpose of project planning is to:

• Identify everything that needs to be done.
• Reduce risks and uncertainty to the minimum.
• Establish standards of performance.
• Provide a structured basis for executing the work.
• Establish procedures for effective control of the work.
• Obtain the required outcomes in the minimum time.

The questions to ask during the planning stage are: what, when, where, why, who, how and how many? All activities required to complete the project must be precisely delineated and coordinated. The necessary resources must be available when and where they are needed and in the correct amounts. Some activities must be done sequentially, but some may be done simultaneously. Where do we start?

Click here to view a video that explains project planning for beginners.

Before we consider this process in more detail, we need to clarify some common terminology used:

Planning can be broken down into sequential steps. Click on the link/s below to open the resources.

Sequential Steps for Planning

Example indicating the comparison and rectification of resources assigned to activities.