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.

Filed under Planning, Project management Tagged with , , , ,

About Robert Buttrick
Robert Buttrick is the author of the Project Workout. He has been providing advice and guidance since the publication of the first edition of his best-selling “flagship” book, the Project Workout in 1997 and now its 4th edition. The principles laid out in the publications, take a holistic view, ensuring that culture, systems, processes and accountabilities are mutually compatible. The book has been translated into French, Korean, Chinese, Russian and Romanian . . . but not yet into Latin! Robert received a Distinguished Service Certificate from BSI for services to national and international project management standards; he is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Chartered Engineer and an Honorary Fellow of the Association for Project Management. He currently works as a consultant and is a Visiting Teaching Fellow at the University of Warwick.

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