- Understanding PMI’s Project Planning Process Group
- Exploring Key Aspects of the Planning Processes
- Developing the Project Management Plan
- Scope Management
- Activity Planning—From WBS to Project Schedule
- Critical Cost Estimating Factors
- Exam Prep Questions
- Answers to Exam Prep Questions
- Need to Know More?
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Exploring Key Aspects of the Planning Processes
This chapter looks at the first four types of key planning processes. The main purpose of planning is to provide a framework to gather information to produce a project management plan. In fact, the plan itself is really a collection of other plans. The majority of activities in the planning group center around developing the supporting documents that comprise the final project management plan. As more detailed information is learned about the project, the overall plan becomes more complete and the confidence in the project increases.
Planning is an iterative group of processes as well. As the project progresses it often becomes necessary to modify the plan due to any number of reasons. Unexpected results, delays, outside factors, and internal factors can all require additional planning. Any scope changes will also likely require one or more planning processes to be revisited. Don’t assume that planning is only accomplished once. The exam requires that you understand how planning is iterative throughout a project.
The following list details some fundamental planning process items you need to understand for the exam:
Project management plan—One process in the planning group addresses the project management plan. The develop project management plan process is the high-level process that provides direction for developing subsidiary plans and compiling their information into the final project plan.
Scope—Three processes address scope planning. These direct the refinement of the preliminary scope statement and break down the high-level goals of the project into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Activity—Five processes deal with activity planning. After the work of the project is expressed in small, manageable chunks, the activity-related processes are oriented with defining the activity details, integrating with project resources, and sequencing the project activities.
Cost—Two processes address cost planning. These processes collect estimates and organize them into a project budget.
Each of these processes is looked at individually in the next section.