Create an Effective Project Plan
Any business project can suffer when not enough forethought has been devoted to it. This article gives some tips on how to develop a useful plan when undertaking something new on the job.
Steps
- Approach the plan logically. Making an effective project plan might look like an overwhelming job. In practice, however, it is a straightforward process. It's built with a logical examination of what is required to arrive at the desired outcome on time and within budget.
- Make a check-off list. Although each director may have a different approach, a well crafted checklist is vital to any enterprise.
- Project managers will implement their own ideas for procedure and sequence.
- Approaches may vary, but most preliminary checklists resemble each other regardless of specific requirements.
- Break down the production. A competent project plan can be broken down into the following steps and conditions:
- Objectives should be lucid and concise, directing the development of the project and specifying measures to evaluate growth and outcomes.
- Mention any similar projects already realized, and scrutinize them for problems that surfaced during their completion.
- Arrive at a realistic budget so that the project can meet expectations. Take time to think of everything before the project begins.
- Outline the responsibilities of every member of the team. Be sure each knows how the project depends on him or her.
- Perform a risk analysis. An efficient project involves clear awareness of possible problems and hazards. Develop ideas for avoiding them before they occur.
- Adjust as you go. As the program develops, it should be reviewed and adjusted as needed.
- The managing director must consistently compare daily performance, aims and goals of the team with the long-term goals of the business.
- Incorporate a timeline that clearly shows deadlines for each phase of the job. This will strongly impact quality of outcome and overall complexity of the project.
- Promote agreement. The structure of the project must be understood and endorsed by the project manager, his/her boss, and the client, too.
- Re-examine the project before it actually begins. Envision how the various processes will interface and how the results will appear as they develop. This is the last step in creating the plan and the first step in the project itself.
Tips
- The project plan allows the manager and his/her team to anticipate and plan for what's ahead. Steps are outlined, assets and potential problems are defined, and the schedule is organized.
- Be prepared to pass along knowledge. Ideally you don't want mid-project personnel turnover. If it happens, however, there should be a system in place to pass forward knowledge and experience to newcomers.
- The key to a thriving project is preparation. It's essential to the success of your program. It may be tempting just to get the work underway, but rushing things can result in a waste of money, time and effort.
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Sources and Citations
- Original source is John Ratch of http://www.projectmanager.com
