Planning a Project, Project Manager

Planning at the project level establishes a firm plan, information, and disciplines for achieving the business benefits of the project.

The primary steps to carry out this activity are:

• Planning Quality
• Planning a Project
• Refining the Business case and Risks
• Setting Up Project Files
• Assembling an overall Project Plan

The key output of the initiation phase is the overall project plan.  This document consists of supporting information in either forms or document format for easy maintenance.  These key information sources are:

• Project Quality Plan
• Project Plan (including Project Schedule)
• Business Case
• Risk, and Issue Logs
• Project File

This activity defines the Project Management Products that are developed and delivered during the Initiation Phase.  Managing the initiation phase uses other processes such as executing, controlling, closing, Initiating (a Phase), and Planning (a Phase).

Though this process requires thorough planning, the primary purpose is to plan the project and the next phase within the context of the risks that have been identified for the project.  Carrying risk forward from this phase is acceptable.

Where the project has been triggered as part of a proposal for a customer contract, much of the planning will be done in parallel with preparing the proposal.  This information will be the basis for the proposal and contract.  The actual Initiation Phase will close near the end of the negotiation of the contract with the customer.

The Project Plan, once approved by the SMT, forms the Performance Measurement Baseline for the project.

• Project Quality Plan Draft is available
• Project Plan Draft is available
• Project Business Case Draft Available if required
• Project File set up
• Next Phase Planning Triggered
• Project Plan Draft Submitted to the SMT for Approval

• PMBK_TPL004 - Project Quality Plan
• PMBK_TPL001 - Project Plan
• PMBK_TPL005 - Business Case

• PMGT_FRM002 - Issue Management Forms
• PMGT_FRM007 - Risk Management Forms
• PMGT_FRM011 - Lessons Learned Forms

• Project Planning Methodology
• Project File Guidelines

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge

• 4.1 Project Plan Development
• 8.1 Quality Planning
• 10.1 Communications Planning
• 11.1 Risk Management Planning
• 11.2 Risk Identification
• 11.3 Qualitative Risk Analysis
• 11.4 Quantitative Risk Analysis
• 11.5 Risk Response Planning