The Project Management Tool Kit: 100 Tips and Techniques for Getting the Job Done Right

Develop the Plans

At the start of planning, information about expected deliverables is often the clearest, so scope planning and scope definition are generally where planning begins. The work breakdown structure (WBS) from scope definition serves as the bottom-up foundation for all other planning, including risk management planning.

Activity definition (derived from the WBS) supports preliminary scheduling, which is usually next. Activity duration estimating and activity sequencing for each defined activity provide the information needed for workflow analysis. Done in parallel, their outputs feed into schedule development, often facilitated by software tools for project management. Using the preliminary schedule, you can create Gantt charts, ...