Planning

Once the project is approved to move forward based on your business case, statement of work, or project

initiation document, you move into the planning phase. During this phase of the project management life

cycle, you break down the larger project into smaller tasks, build your team, and prepare a schedule for the

completion of assignments. Create smaller goals within the larger project, making sure each is achievable

within the time frame. Smaller goals should have a high potential for success.

Steps for the project planning phase may include the following:

$$ Creating a project plan: Identify the project timeline, including the phases of the project, the tasks to be

performed, and possible constraints

$$ Creating workflow diagrams: Visualize your processes using swim lanes to make sure team members

clearly understand their role in a project

$$ Estimating budget and creating a financial plan: Use cost estimates to determine how much to spend on

the project to get the maximum return on investment

$$ Gathering resources: Build your functional team from internal and external talent pools while making sure

everyone has the necessary tools $($software$,$ hardware, etc.$)$ to complete their tasks

$$ Anticipating risks and potential quality roadblocks: Identify issues that may cause your project to stall while

planning to mitigate those risks and maintain the project$$s quality and timeline

$$ Holding a project kickoff meeting: Bring your team on board and outline the project so they can quickly get

to work