The following will be discussed in this chapter: The basis of a project plan - the “project charter”, the planning process - overview, the planning process - nuts and bolts, more on the work breakdown structure and other aids, risk management. | Chapter 3 Project Activity and Risk Planning Two Extremes Approaches to Planning “Ready, fire, aim” Tom Peters “Paralysis by analysis” There is a happy medium that everyone would like to strike From the Project Charter to the Project Plan Primary function of a project plan is to serve as a roadmap Should include the business case, financial benefits, and strategic reasons for the project Should contain sufficient information to know the status of the project at any time Also needs the project’s history to date Categories of Elements to Include in Project Charter The business need for the project The assumptions underlying the project Key constraints Customer requirements Identification of high-level risks Key project milestones A high-level budget A list of key stakeholders The PM assigned to the project The boundaries of the project Elements of a Proper Project Plan The process for managing change A plan for communicating with and managing stakeholders Specifying the process for . | Chapter 3 Project Activity and Risk Planning Two Extremes Approaches to Planning “Ready, fire, aim” Tom Peters “Paralysis by analysis” There is a happy medium that everyone would like to strike From the Project Charter to the Project Plan Primary function of a project plan is to serve as a roadmap Should include the business case, financial benefits, and strategic reasons for the project Should contain sufficient information to know the status of the project at any time Also needs the project’s history to date Categories of Elements to Include in Project Charter The business need for the project The assumptions underlying the project Key constraints Customer requirements Identification of high-level risks Key project milestones A high-level budget A list of key stakeholders The PM assigned to the project The boundaries of the project Elements of a Proper Project Plan The process for managing change A plan for communicating with and managing stakeholders Specifying the process for setting key characteristics of the project deliverable Establishing the cost baseline for the project and developing a plan to manage project costs Elements of a Proper Project Plan continued Developing a plan for managing the human resources assigned to the project Developing a plan for continuously monitoring and improving project work processes Developing guidelines for procuring project materials and resources Elements of a Proper Project Plan continued Defining the project’s scope and establishing practices to manage the project’s scope Developing the Work Breakdown Structure Developing practices to manage the quality of the project deliverables Defining how project requirements will be managed Elements of a Proper Project Plan concluded Establishing practices for managing risk Establishing the schedule baseline and developing a plan to manage the project’s schedule The Planning Process-Overview Develop and evaluate the concept of the project Carefully identify what project .
