When a plan is not a plan at all!
December 28, 2010 Leave a Comment
The word plan is used frequently in day to day conversations and most people have a good idea of what a “plan” is. However in a programme and project management context things may not be quite so clear. One common mistake people often make is to believe the “plan” is just the timescale, as shown in a Gantt Chart. However, whilst the timescale (or schedule plan, to give it its formal name) is vital, it is only one part of the overall plan. The other aspects include:
- costs,
- resources,
- accountability,
- WBS
- and, often, benefits.
These are often bundled together into a narrative document such as a Programme Plan or Project Plan.
This holistic view of the term “plan” is what is used in PRINCE2, BS6079, PMI and APM publications . . . and that is also how we use the term in the Project Workout. You can find out more about planning in the Project Workout, Part 4.
Good programme and project plans can take many forms and any enterprise approach should allow a programme or project manager a wide degree of freedom in how to document this. Standard Product Descriptions, which contain tailoring guidelines are good place to document such guidelines.
So, next time you are asked for a “plan”, check what the person is really looking for and don’t jump to conclusions that what you define as a “plan” is the same as theirs.
About buttrick
