Overview
Both small and large projects require planning. Planning provides the means to control it projects and provides those involved with information about:
- What is required
- How, by whom and with what resources the project will be carried out
- When everything will happen and at what cost.
PRINCE2 uses Product Based Planning, that is to say it first defines WHAT is to be delivered rather than the ACTIONS required to achieve the deliverable product. Meaning that before actions or activities are considered a product's description, the skills required to produce it and its quality criteria are required before the product can be approved. These steps are sub-processes in the process Planning and allow the Project Manager to objectively monitor and control each product's production.
Once the products have been described and their quality criteria established (along with skills required) the following planning steps take place:
- Decide when and by whom activities should be carried out
- Estimate the amount of effort and the amount of time
- Agree resource commitment and what quality control will be in place
- Produce a schedule of activities
- Calculate costs involved (included in the plan budget)
- Assess risks and identify control points
- Agree Tolerances with the Project Board.
The Project Approach (SU Starting up a Project) is essential for planning and the whole planning process will require continuous updating as new information comes to light.
Tips
- Ensure the plan covers those aspects of planning that are relevant to the project in question and has and appropriate level of detail.
- Planning is time consuming, allow sufficient time for it.
- When planning stages try to plan short rather than long ones.
- Past Lessons Learned Reports are excellent sources of information and guidance for planning.
Notes
- As PRINCE2 is a product based methodology 'what' is to be produced is defined first along with its product description
- Ensure that the plan includes time and resources for project and quality management
- The principles are What (e.g. description and quality), Why and How (e.g. by whom, what sequence)
- Basic steps (once the what, why and how have been answered):
- When, by whom
- Amount of effort that will be required
- Determine how long it will take
- Determine quality control
- Calculate costs
- Decide on budget
- Assess risks
- Determine control points
- Plays an important part in:
Case studies and examples
Related links
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