1. A summary of part 1 of Chapter 7 CEP 812 Kay Paff March 24, 1999
A Planning Primer
A summary of part 1 of
Chapter 7
CEP Kay Paff March 24, 1999

2. Understanding the Project Planning Process
Planning determines a course of action and the allocation of resources for reaching a goal.
Planning is the thinking and organizing that precedes the actual work.

3. Objectives of Project Planning
Define all the work that has to be done
use a documented project plan
must be approved by management and project staff
Helps both project manager and staff understand project better

4. Understanding the Project Planning Process
Written plan also is a basis for aligning the expectations of the customer
Don’t rely on memory
Planning can save time, effort and money

5. Successful Projects get done within
The planned time
The planned cost
The defined measurable results
The resource constraints

6. Project Planning helps by
Clarifying the project end result
Reducing uncertainty about what needs to be done
Improving the efficiency of project execution

7. Project Planning helps by
Identifying problem areas with alternative plans
Providing a baseline plan for tracking the project execution
Communicating what needs to be done to others

8. Planning is Realizing Your Goals
Where am I now?
What do I want to change?
Where do I start?
Make the result measurable!
What are my options for getting there?
Who will I need help from?
Write an action plan and follow it
How’s it going? Should I adjust?
Measure it. How did I do?

9. Project Management Software
Can show in calendar sequence
what needs to be done
by whom
the priority of each task
so you can focus on the critical tasks when needed
Microsoft Project 4.0 does a great job

10. Communication Communication Gets Results! Upper Management Customer
Project Manager
Group Managers
Communication Gets Results!
Project Team

11. How Much Available Project Time Do You Have?
Operational work
time involved in all other job related work other than project
Determine by researching your weekly activities and calculating
Project activities
Be sure to include
Project planning activities
attending project team meetings
completing project tasks
resolving project problems

12. Time Management is Critical!!

13. Project Management Challenge
Identify and organize the elements of a project
Put them together into a logical flow
Monitor everything to a successful completion

14. A Good Balance The elements you need to manage are: Money Time
Materials
Resources
people
equipment
facilities

15. Breaking Your Project into Manageable Pieces
Two Major Project Phases
Planning
Implementation

16. Planning Phase Define the goal and objectives
Determine the quantity and quality of work
Organize the work to be done
Allocate the resources necessary to do the work
Schedule the tasks and resources

17. Implementation Phase Track progress to the baseline plan
Report planned vs. actual progress
Analyze the impact of change
Make adjustments to the plan as needed
Transfer care to an operational group
Schedule final project review

18. Implementation Phase Be sure to problem-solve report to management
check resources and their allocation

19. Setting and Achieving Goals
Accomplishing goals requires being specific about the final result and how to get there
To achieve a goal, you must write an objective for it that can be measured

20. Setting and Achieving Goals
The project must:
Have commitment for completion
Be able to be described or observed
Be specific and measurable
Be broken down into a series of measured steps
Have input from key people

21. Close the Loop!