Overview

Planning, even though it might seem a bore, is critical to the success of any project.

Not Bad, but I think you need a bit more detail right here!

If you don t plan, you will never know if you are on target or not. A plan is not a piece of paper produced for your management; it is to help you do your job. A project plan should be an extension of the Quality Plan and part of your contract with the users to deliver.

All the tasks might seem clear at the beginning, but by the middle of the project it s easy to lose your way. A project plan should be like a road map, to help you find the signposts to the end of the project, and to make successful deliveries of software.

By understanding the principles of planning, which are quite simple, you can build on the work you have done to structure the project, and put estimates and responsibilities against each task. While there is no crystal ball to check your estimates, there are good rules of thumb which will tell you if you re about right.

You can then monitor your progress against the plan. If you think there is any danger of slippage the plan equips you to react quickly but in a controlled and sensible way.

What are the Principles of Planning?

The scope of your project and the different roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined in the Strategy...