2. Definition
A Software Project planning is the complete methodology
of programming advancement from requirement gathering
to testing and support, completed by the execution
procedures, in a specified period to achieve intended
software product.
3. Objectives of project planning
The Objectives of project planning are listed below :
It defines the roles and responsibilities of the project
management team members.
It ensures that the project management team works
according to the business objectives.
It checks feasibility of the schedule and user
requirements.
It determines project constraints.
4. Principles Of Software Project planning
Planning is necessary: Planning should be done before a project begins.
For effective planning, objectives and schedules should be clear and
understandable.
Risk analysis: Before starting the project, senior management and the
project management team should consider the risks that may affect the
project.
Tracking of project plan: Once the project plan is prepared, it should be
tracked and modified accordingly.
Meet quality standards and produce quality deliverables: The project
plan should identify processes by which the project management team can
ensure quality in software. Based on the process selected for ensuring
quality, the time and cost for the project is estimated.
5. Issues In Software Project planning
Issues with Time Management
1. Determining short time
2. Wastage of time by team
3. Wastage of time by manager
4. Wastage of time due to incident
Issues with Finance Management
1. Short budget
2. Late payment from customer
3. Improper use of budget
6. Issues in software project planning
Issues with man power
1. Poor induction
2. Untrained personnel
3. Lack of trust among team member
4. Mentally unconfident teams
Issues with Management itself
1. Lack of interest
2. Mentally not clear about project
3. Manager himself not expert
7. Issues In project planning
Software Requirements: Changing, Missing or
Unclear: A project plan is based on requirements. It goes
without saying that if you change your requirements or
identify missing requirements during the project, the
project scope will be impacted.
8. Activities in Software project planning
Project planning process comprises several activities,
which are essential for carrying out a project
systematically. These activities refer to the series of tasks
performed over a period of time for developing the
software. These activities include estimation of time,
effort, and resources required and risks associated with the
project.
10. Software project planning Activities
Project planning process consists of the following activities :
Identification of project requirements: Before starting a project, it is
essential to identify the project requirements as identification of project
requirements helps in performing the activities in a systematic manner.
These requirements comprise information such as project scope, data
and functionality required in the software, and roles of the project
management team members.
Identification of cost estimates: Along with the estimation of effort
and time, it is necessary to estimate the cost that is to be incurred on a
project. The cost estimation includes the cost of hardware, network
connections, and the cost required for the maintenance of hardware
components. In addition, cost is estimated for the individuals involved
in the project.
11. Software project planning activities
Identification of risks: Risks are unexpected events that
have an adverse effect on the project. Software project
involves several risks (like technical risks and business
risks) that affect the project schedule and increase the cost
of the project. Identifying risks before a project begins
helps in understanding their probable extent of impact on
the project.
Identification of critical success factors: For making
a project successful, critical success factors are followed.
These factors refer to the conditions that ensure greater
chances of success of a project. Generally, these factors
include support from management, appropriate budget,
appropriate schedule, and skilled software engineers.
12. Software project planning activities
Preparation of project charter: A project charter provides a brief
description of the project scope, quality, time, cost, and resource
constraints as described during project planning. It is prepared by
the management for approval from the sponsor of the project.
Preparation of project plan: A project plan provides information
about the resources that are available for the project, individuals
involved in the project, and the schedule according to which the
project is to be carried out.
Commencement of the project: Once the project planning is
complete and resources are assigned to team members, the software
project commences.
13. Master Scheduling
This master schedule represents a summary-level project
schedule the purpose of which is to identify all of the
major deliverables for the project as well as all
individual work. It contains definitions and dates for
every milestone of the project.
Inside the project master schedule is the allocation of the
time required to achieve every objective and the
documentation and illustration of the relationships
between all activities.
14. Components of Master Schedule
The master schedule depends on the adequate
construction of the master project plan and the detailed
work schedules for the project to enable it to accurately
determine the accurate time each milestone will be
completed and each deliverable will be produced.
Components are:
1. Master Project plan
2. Detailed work schedule
15. Master project plan
Formulation of a reliable and accurate master schedule
cannot begin until a master project plan is in place. The
project master plan is primarily intended for the project
team and includes:
Project scope and work statement.
Project organization, resources, and training requirements.
Technical details of every significant project activity. This
includes the work breakdown structure (WBS) that is
essential for the formulation of the detailed work
schedules required by the project master schedule.
16. Detailed work schedule
The creation of the master project schedule is a process that is
formed from the bottom up. That means that the work schedules
from each team member and element must be defined before they
can be included in the master schedule. This also means that the
those who will actually do the work should be involved in
estimating the schedule for each task. This not only improves the
accuracy of the master schedule as a whole, but it helps to assure
the support of every member of the team.
