The cornerstone of project planning: an accurate, precise project plan

The project plan is key to project design and implementation. If it is sufficiently elaborate, precise and accurate, it is a half-success in achieving the project's objectives. 

The role of the project plan in the project design process

The successful implementation of various corporate projects is key to the operation of a company. Thoughtful and precise project planning is a prerequisite for effective project management. An inadequately planned project can cause significant damage to the company, so it is important to pay close attention to this.

Definition and main functions of a project plan

The focal point of the project planning process is the project plan. The project plan is an approved document that includes the scope and objectives of the project. It also includes the steps to be taken to achieve the objective, their timing, the cost elements and resources allocated to them, and a risk management plan, possibly a communication or quality management plan. In internationally accepted methodologies, the term project management plan is often used instead of project plan, the content of which is somewhat broader than the project plan in the national context.

Other features of the project management plan:

• planning the cooperation with the stakeholders interested in the project 
• planning the engagement of suppliers and subcontractors
• quality management planning
• recording the project management processes to be applied
• The project plan includes a plan for monitoring the project. 

The importance of the project plan 

The project plan is much more than just a document: it is crucial to the success of the project. It is therefore necessary to keep the project plan under constant review to ensure that it is updated in the light of new information that becomes available during the implementation of the project. 

What is a good project plan? This requires you to answer the following questions:

• What is the aim of the project?
• What tasks are needed to achieve the objective?
• Who(s) will carry out these tasks?
• When is the project expected to be completed?

Preparation and structure of the project plan

Identifying the responsible for project planning and defining the project's objective

The first step in preparing a project plan is to identify the person or group responsible for drawing up the plan. In large companies, often a separate team (Planning Process Group) is set up for this purpose.

The creation of the project plan requires the identification of the stakeholders involved in the project, the prior agreement of the sponsor (client) and the project leader, and the definition of the scope (project establishment). The key stakeholders in a project are usually:

• the customer (sponsor, client),
• project manager, 
• project team,
• subject matter experts,
• users.

The next important step defining the scope and scale of the project. This includes:

• the expectations of the project client (sponsor),
• the views of other actors directly involved in the project,
• the objectives of other project participants,
• and a list of deliverables and related work packages.

WBS - Work breakdown structure