Chapter 9 - Planning IT projects

Abstract

This chapter goes through the process of creating the needed details that help to guide a project once work begins. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is one of the key elements of any project plan because it delineates, in a very detailed manner, the work that must be done to accomplish the project's objectives. The WBS defines the scope of the project. If work is not in the WBS, it's not in the project. The various task details including— task owner, entry/exit criteria, and completion criteria round out the WBS and gives the project team a very clear picture of the work to be accomplished. The network diagram is a great way to help a project take shape and form. The schedule must take into account resource conflicts and constraints at several levels, which is where having a project management software program can be quite helpful. The project budget is developed based on the cost of each task, which can be generated based on historical results or on calculations. An important undertaking is the identification and management of project risks. Moreover, as part of the project planning, the communications plans should be detailed. The final project plan should be a comprehensive plan that includes all the work and detail related to the project. The “active” final project plan should be a living, breathing document that is updated as approved changes occur.