PrintThe Project Plan
The project plan is the point to which all planning converges and from which all implementation diverges. In this sense, it is a clear picture of the project at one instance in time. The project plan may undergo extreme revisions during its concept and development. Similarly, the project itself may change drastically during its implementation and close-out. Project managers should recognize that projects can be flexible and dynamic, but must also be as well-defined as possible. The project plan is an important document to define the project at a critical instance.
The project plan may be composed of a number of components that can be quite specific to an organization. A project plan might include the following parts:
- Project overview
- Project team and stakeholder organization
- Management practices (project monitoring, status reporting, communications, change management)
- Project scope (tasks, methodology, deliverables)
- Project schedule
- Project budget
- Quality management standards and processes
- Risks and risk management/response strategy
- Summary
Reviewing this list, you can see that you have been working on a project plan, piece by piece, during the last six lessons. Now let's discuss how you will pull your previous assignments together into a project plan.