The Foundation of Project Execution
📌 Definition: The process of creating, integrating, and coordinating all subsidiary plans into a comprehensive formal document that guides project execution and control.
Must be:
- ✅ Agreed upon by stakeholders
- 📝 Formally approved (signatures required)
- 🎯 Realistic and viable
- 📚 A living document — updated throughout the project
If you’re new to formal project planning, spend time understanding how to gain buy-in, align with stakeholder objectives, and manage conflicting priorities early.
| 🔍 Aspect | 📊 Predictive (Plan-based) | ⚡ Agile/Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Detail | Fully developed before execution | Starts light, elaborated iteratively |
| Who Plans? | Project manager + team | Team + Product Owner |
| Scope | Defined early | Prioritized and refined |
| Updates | Less frequent | Frequent/progressive |
| Format | Highly formalized | Flexible but rigorous |
📌 Agile Planning Tools:
🧑💼 Product Owner plays a central role in scope prioritization and viability review of plans.
🔧 The project manager uses the approved plan to:
- Track progress
- Guide team actions
- Manage scope, time, cost, risks
- Communicate with stakeholders
- Apply progressive elaboration
- Approve changes formally
⚠️ In adaptive environments, expect more frequent updates to reflect evolving requirements.
Not part of the Project Management Plan but critical to success
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| 🧾 Authorization | Project Charter, Agreements, Contracts |
| 📘 Planning | Assumption Log, Estimates, Resource Requirements |
| 🧠 Knowledge | Lessons Learned Register, Forecasts |
| 📊 Monitoring | Risk Register, Issue Log, Reports, Change Log |
| 🤝 Team | Team Charter, Requirements Documentation, Quality Metrics |
👩💼 Used by: Project Manager & Team
🔐 Approved by Sponsor? Only a few (e.g., Project Charter, Contracts)
Due to the iterative nature of projects, these documents are frequently revised based on real-time information.
📌 Example:
If a risk is no longer valid → ✏️ Update the Risk Register → 💰 Remove reserve funds
📄 Signatures = Formal Buy-in
Must occur before execution begins
🎯 Purpose:
- Announce project start
- Introduce team members
- Review objectives & roles
- Gain commitment from all parties
📌 Topics Covered:
- 🛣️ Milestones
- ⚠️ Risks
- 📡 Communication Plan
- 📅 Meeting Schedule
🔁 In Agile: Kickoff is high-level; feature-level details emerge during release and iteration planning and are validated via iteration review meetings.
| ✔️ Task | Description |
|---|---|
| 🔨 Develop Plan | Include scope, timeline, cost, quality, and more |
| ✍️ Formal Approval | Collect stakeholder signatures |
| 📣 Kickoff Meeting | Align team and stakeholders |
| 🔄 Ongoing Updates | Revise project documents and plan as needed |