The Eight Steps of Project Planning

Years ago I stumbled upon a series of inexpensive management booklets published by Dorling Kindersley Limited. The one that was most helpful to me was Project Management. In particular the section on Planning A Project. The booklet describes eight steps that I have used every time I tackle a new project. As designers we have learned to do this, but not in a formal way that always leads to a good plan. Too often we just jump on the first ideas and start designing. Or for non-design projects - just start doing stuff without a clear picture of the whole process. 

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The 8 Project Planning Steps

1. Defining the vision. What's the big picture look like?
   
2. Setting objectives. What specific things do you want to achieve?
   
3. Assessing constraints. What is in the way; what approvals are needed?
   
4. Listing activities. What are all the tasks that make up the project? (Forget sequence - just brainstorm.)
   
5. Committing resources. What is the budget and are you ready to accept responsibility for it?
   
6. Ordering activities. What is the logical and effective way to tackle the list of project tasks?
   
7. Agreeing dates. What is the timeline and can everyone involved meet it?
   
8. Validating the plan. Do the stakeholders agree with the plan?
   

I have found that, whenever a project seems especially complicated, frustrating or just plain stuck, a review of these eight steps will bring clarity and show yoy the way through the impasse. 

Give it a try.

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Original post date 1/7/2013

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