Project Planning

Policy Statement:

Each project manager must develop, maintain, and follow a written plan that defines project goals, processes, and resource estimates (in terms of schedule, cost, and development).  The project plan must be updated throughout the life of the project to accurately reflect the current plan.

Purpose:

To ensure proper planning is performed for successful project completion.

Overview:

Project planning includes developing estimates for the work to be performed, establishing the necessary commitments, and defining the plan to perform the work.  The development plan addresses the commitments in terms of resources, constraints, and capabilities of the project.  Finally, the plan provides the basis for guiding the management and the performance of the project and evaluating the work progress.

Objectives:

• Develop a plan for each project that appropriately and realistically covers the activities and commitments (based on documented requirements) and breaks down the development effort into manageable components.
  
• Ensure that all affected groups and individuals (e.g., developers, external users, internal customers, stakeholders, etc.) understand the planning estimates and assignments and commit to support them.

• Document all approved estimates and plans for tracking activities and commitments. Project estimates are refined throughout project phases. As issues are better understood, estimates for later project phases are updated based on project specific data rather that formula-based assumptions.
• Perform project planning in accordance with organizational procedures and in a manner consistent with the complexity and risk of the project.

Responsibilities

The project manager has primary responsibility for implementing this policy.

Evidence of Compliance:

Some {low risk} projects will prepare a project plan that includes, at a minimum, a project statement, a project schedule with milestones, and a project budget. Other {medium risk} projects will also provide project resource estimates, a deliverable list, a project risk assessment, and a configuration management process. Still other {high risk} projects will additionally be required to provide a detailed work breakdown structure, a quality plan, a project requirements list, and an issues list.

Project Planning Guidelines and Best Practices

Project Management