What is it that sets a successful project apart among the 37% to 45% of projects doomed for failure?
It is not a team made up of world-class professionals or wealthy clients. It doesn’t have a long timeline nor a large budget.
A project plan that is flexible and clear will ensure a successful project. (click to Tweet) A project plan is a strategic tool that helps you manage a project within its scope, budget, and timeframe.
It is what you will use to guide your team in completing project milestones, tasks, and goals. It informs clients about the requirements, risks, and how to navigate these events to complete the project.
No matter what industry you work in, a project plan will help you and your team get from Point A through Point Z.
How to create a project planning that people love to read
You must approach a project plan as more than a long, boring document in order to make it effective.
This piece of paper is integral to the success of your project if you view it as a key component.
To create a great project planning document, you must first make sure it is written in a way that clients and colleagues will enjoy reading it.
Your project plan should be more than just a design with fancy fonts. It should also communicate the information your clients and teammates need to know about it. This could include:
Deliverables
The project timeline/s
The project team members
The possible risks and changes that could occur during the project, etc.
Four core questions you should ask when creating a project plan
This can be done in many ways. It should answer these four core questions at the end of it all:
Core question #1: What are the main deliverables?
This question forces you be clear about your goals when you embark on this project. This question can also be used to verify that you and your team are within the scope of the project and that each step leads to these deliverables.
Core question #2: How can we get to those deliverables by the deadline?
This question requires that you think strategically in order to be able create or achieve these major deliverables within the budget and time frame.
You may want to look deeper to determine if there are any changes or risks that could affect your ability meet these requirements. These events can be avoided by finding solutions and staying on track.
No matter what industry you work in, a project plan will help you and your team get from Point A through Point Z. You can use tools like gantt charts to ensure you finish projects on time and within budget.
Core question #3: Who will be on the project team?
This question addresses an important aspect of any project: Who will you bring on board to help complete the project?
It is important to know who your team members are, how they work and what their roles are. A RACI chart will help you make sure everyone is clear about their responsibilities throughout the project.
Core question #4: When will the team reach milestones? And when will other members play a part in providing feedback or contributing to those deliverables.
This question should be answered by your project timeline. This is where you will set the deadlines for each milestone and decide when the team will meet to discuss progress and update. Also, this will determine who will work on and provide feedback for specific deliverables.
Be prepared.
These four core questions will ensure that you have considered all the important details of your project before you dive in. This helps you avoid project disaster and keeps you and the team on track.
Let these questions motivate and inspire you to create your free project plan now!
The easiest way to create a proje
