What is Project Planning?

A simple question for you - What is project planning?

Before I answer that, remember this. Here at EasyPM we like to keep things simple. Our dearly held view is that there is enough complexity in the world without us adding to it with jargon and buzzwords. I will do my best to keep this one simple and informative.

However, at this point I must confide in you that it is a skill that needs to be learned. Some people are naturally good at it, others not so good, but it can still be learned. Ok so far? Here we go.

Project planning is a process. It does the following things:

1. project planning identifies clearly what will be produced (the products), the resources needed and when they will be delivered.
2. project planning confirms that the project has been thought through before it commences and offers assurance that there is some control of the resources.
3. project planning forms the basis of communication with customers and management to confirm the end products are understood.

The project planning process starts and runs in parallel with the project initiation process. It is necessary as part of project initiation to define a high-level project plan. However, and ideally, the detailed planning process should be taken as an activity separate and following on from the project initiation process.

The output from the planning process is called the project plan and this is usually written down and distributed in an easy to read format for discussion. Discussing the project plan is a key part of the communication process with customers and management.

There are many ways to write a project plan but a Gannt chart (like the little graphic in this post) is a well known and easily understood format. Very simply, a Gannt Chart is a list of activities with start dates, end dates and the name of the person responsible for completing the activity. Here at EasyPM, we like Gannt charts and use them without hesitation. Why not take a look at the article where we walk through the Gannt chart and talk about tools for creating one?

So now we summarise. Project planning is a process whose output provides enough detail to management and customers to describe the following about the project:

• What it is that the customer needs done.
• How it will be delivered, using what resources (including money) and by whom.
• When it will be done.

Any questions, stay back after class!