TABLE OF CONTENTS Big fleas have little fleas
Upon their backs to bite em
Little fleas have lesser fleas
And so ad infinitum.Old rhyme [1.]
One distinguishing feature of projects is that each is tailored toward some unique end-item or result. That uniqueness implies that every project must be defined anew and a scheme created telling everyone involved what to do. Deciding and specifying what to do is the function of project planning. Making sure it is done right is the function of project control.
Three things occur in the planning and control process: (1) During the conception and definition phases (before project work actually begins) a plan is prepared specifying the project requirements, work tasks, responsibilities, schedules, and budgets; (2) during the execution phase the plan is compared to actual project performance, time, and cost; if there are discrepancies, (3) corrective actions are taken and the requirements, schedules, and budgets updated. Planning and control are essential parts of project management; they enable people to understand what is needed to meet project goals and reduce the uncertainty of outcomes. Planning and control are the subjects of the next six chapters. This chapter gives an overview of the planning process and the initial steps in preparing project plans.
[1.] Cited in Robert Boguslaw, The New Utopians (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall): 38.
Top management gives the authorization to begin planning shortly after a business need, contract request, or RFP is...
