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PROJECT MGT
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Build the Work Plan |
Overview
The project work plan is created along with the appropriate Project Definition. It may seem obvious, but the work plan is a vital tool to ensure that the project team knows what they need to do. Many people are uncomfortable creating a work plan. Usually this is because the project has not been well defined. How can a decent work plan be built if the project manager is not really sure of what the project will deliver?
In the prior step you defined the project to be sure you have an agreement with the project sponsor on what work should be completed in this project. In this step the project manager determines how the work will be completed. Different approaches should be taken in this step according to the size of the project. The work plan for small projects can be built without a lot of formality. It is possible to use a project management package like MS Project, or a spreadsheet, or a piece of paper.
If you do not have a work plan template to use as your starting point, the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) technique can be used. The WBS is a technique for looking at the project at a high level, and then subsequently breaking the work into smaller and smaller pieces until you can get the full picture of the totality of work that needs to be performed. The entire team can collaborate on this exercise.
The Relationship Between Defining and Planning the Project
Defining and planning the project are not necessarily a sequential process. You will often find that you cannot complete the Project Definition without starting to lay out the overall project work plan. In many cases, these two deliverables need to be worked on in parallel. As you gather information around scope and deliverables, you will need to start laying out an overall timeline so that you can get your hands around estimated effort and duration. As you get more information, fill in more detail on the work plan. When the deliverables, scope, assumptions and approach are complete, you should have enough information in the work plan to estimate the necessary budget, effort and duration - which in turn are used to complete the Project Definition.
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