1 Managing Projects The Project Plan

2 The Project Plan Document The project plan is a mandate for action. It serves as a road-map. It spells out the nature and scope of the work and the expectations for results The Project Plan Document should contain: 1) The goals and benefits of the project 2) The expected time frame of the work 3) A concise description of project deliverables (objectives) 4) The budget, allocations, and resources available to the project team

3 Clarify Objectives Ambiguity on goals can lead to misunderstandings, disappointment, and expensive rework Make sure objectives are: Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-limited A thoughtful charter indicates the ends but does not specify the means The means should be left to the project manager, the team leader and the team members

4 Means and Ends A thoughtful Charter indicates the ends but does not specify the means The means should be left to the project manager, the team leader and the team members Niccolo’ Machiavelli

5 Time Line All objectives should be specific and measurable. This is the only way a time frame within which objectives will be achieved can be defined. The deadlines must be reasonable, and if necessary, should be amended as the project team learns more about what it must do.

6 Project Scope Options are always more numerous that available time and resources It is crucial to make trade-offs among the options available A project plan serves as a road map, thus it must provides detail about tasks, milestones, deliverables, risks, and timetables

7 Summing Up A project charter spells out in writing the nature and scope of the project’s work and the expectations for results A charter should be unambiguous. Make it specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and time bound The charter should spell out the ends, but not the means Specify what is in the scope of the project and what is not