An Overview on How to Develop a Project Plan. Was developed for University Students:

1. How to Develop a Project Plan
Facilitated by
Radhia Benalia, PhDc, PMP
Radhia.benalia@gmail.com

2. The Project Management Institute, Becoming a Business-
Focused PM Leader, Project Management Institute, Inc.,
Where it All Starts:

3. What is a Project?
“A Project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to
create a unique product, service, or result”.-PMI It is
usually progressively elaborated.

4.  This is how it usually works:
 Starting the project
Organizing and preparing
Carrying out the project work (With Monitoring and
Controlling)
Closing the project

5. Why is a Project Plan Essential?
 Planning is essential to save money, time, duplicate
effort, and avoid or mitigate risks.
 Also,
 Ensure You understand what the objectives of the
project are.
 Identify who your project sponsor is and whether they
are engaged and available.

6. What is a Project Plan?
The Project Plan is...
 Where all of the pieces of the puzzle come together!
What
Who
Why
WhenHow

7. What is Project Management?
 The application of knowledge, skills, tools and
techniques to project activities in order to meet project
requirements- The Project Management Body of
Knowledge

8. The Triple Constraint
Time
Cost
Scope
Quality
Enhanced Triple Constraint
Triple Constraint
Also known as the IRON
TRIANGLE

9. Questions
 Is the project chartered?
 Who are the key stakeholders of my project?
 What are the high-level risks?
 Who will be the members of my team?

10. Essential Elements
 Governance Structure: Points of Decision Making.
Who calls the shots,
and on what?
 Milestones
 Dependencies
 Risks

11. So now, what do I do?
 Identify your stakeholders and their degree of interest
and impact.
 Collect their requirements.
 Define your scope. Identify a list of things that need to
be delivered to meet the defined goals. What needs to
be done to have the project completed?

12. Stakeholders! Make sure they know you and
your project!
 According to Dilbert,

13. Template:

14. Start with the Work Breakdown Structure
Think in terms of work packages for deliverables
When you reach the action level, Identify a list of tasks
that need to be carried out for
each deliverable . E.g.: Paint the door
Identify the amount of effort needed (hours or days)
Identify the resources (Who?) (What?)

16. Schedule!
 It needs to be done thoroughly, but it’s not written in
stone.
 Start with the deadline in mind.
 Leave a buffer, especially for dependencies.

17. What if it doesn’t work?
 Renegotiate the deadline (project delay)
 Employ additional resources (additional money)
 Reduce the scope of the project (less deliverables)
 Do not over commit. You will be held responsible!

18. What do I include in the Project Plan?
 1- Human Resources Plan:
 Identify roles & responsibilities; -Who will do what?
 Number of People
 Keep a bird view on that.

20. Other Elements:
 Communications Plan:
 Who do I talk to and How?
 The “How” includes frequency of communications.

21. Template

22. Careful!
 Risk Plan: What are my risks?
 Activity:
 What are potential risks of an evening bake sale?

23. I know my risks. What do I do?
 Avoid. You decide: “Nah…too risky”. Not with these
constraints.
 Mitigate. Find a way to lessen the impact
 Transfer. Let someone else deal with it!
 Accept?

24. Risk Template

25. What do I need to be aware of?
 Keep close tabs on your baseline.
 Communicate well with your stakeholders.
 Change Management requests need to have a defined
process and need to be documented. Don’t just make
changes because you’re asked to! Think restraints.
 Keep objective in mind. Why are we doing this project?

26. What makes a good PM?
 Good Communication Skills: Listen, Listen, then
Speak!
 Leadership Skills
 Integration Skills
 Good Delegation Skills

27. Q&As?
Radhia.benalia@gmail.com
Radhia.benalia@gmail.com

28. Radhia.benalia@gmail.com