Project Manager's Spotlight on Planning

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments x

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Initiating the Project Plan 1

Small vs Large Projects 1

Initiating a Project 3

Drafting the Project Plan 12

Chapter 2 Defining Project Objectives, Goals, Scope, and Requirements 21

Setting Project Objectives and Goals 22

Defining Project Goals 25

Delineating Scope 33

Requirements 35

Case Study 39

Chapter 3 Defining Your Risk Management Plan 43

Planning for Risk Management 43

Creating a Risk Response Plan 45

Case Study 52

Chapter 4 Drafting Your Dream Team 55

Identifying Your Organization 56

Team Composition 58

Defining Skills 60

Negotiating for Your Team 62

Team Development Stages 63

Project Hiring 66

Defining Team Roles and Responsibilities 67

Project Communication 71

Case Study 77

Chapter 5 Finalizing Estimates and Budgets 81

Building a Bottom-Up Estimate 81

Performing an Estimate Analysis 89

Creating the Project Budget 94

Case Study 98

Chapter 6 Creating the Project Schedule 103

Introducing Activity Sequencing 103

Estimating Activity Durations 104

Defining Activity Precedence 106

Developing the Schedule 108

Seeing How We Really Do It 115

Case Study 118

Chapter 7 Defining Your Quality Management Plan 123

Implementing Quality Processes 124

Using Quality Resources 126

Creating a Quality Management Plan 135

Case Study 136

Chapter 8 Defining the Procurement Management Plan 139

Purchasing Goods and Services 139

Knowing When Should You Use an Attorney 144

Case Study 148

Chapter 9 Formalizing the Plan 151

Creating the Project Kickoff Meeting Agenda 151

Facilitating the Kickoff Meeting 154

Case Study 158

Appendix A Nine Knowledge Areas Refresher 161

Project Management Process Groups 161

Project Management Knowledge Areas 167

Appendix B Project Planning Templates 173

Glossary 193

Index 201