Chapter 14: Planning Support


Overview

Project success is inherently aligned with and dependent upon effective project planning. Project plans establish a common frame of reference for the performance of project management and technical activities, and they provide a road map that guides the project team to fulfillment of project objectives. In turn, project tracking and control ensure progress toward project success by measuring actual project accomplishments against planned activities at regular intervals. When differences between the planned and actual events are deemed significant, corrective actions (project controls) can be implemented. That is the essence of project management. Of course, project planning must be timely, accurate, and complete, per the needs of each project. That is where project planning support provided by the project management office (PMO) becomes a valuable instrument within the relevant organization.

The PMO "planning support" function is arguably the second-most-important PMO function after methodology development (see Chapter 1) that can be offered by the PMO in support of project managers and project team efforts. It provides guidance and assistance to project teams in their development of the essential planning elements needed for every project, and it enables them to become more self-reliant in their application of project planning concepts and practices. Project planning support is a function in the project management environment that is readily accessible to all project teams. It is constantly there, and ideally it is responsive to even short-notice calls for support.

The practice of modern project management can inundate project managers with responsibility for developing extensive plans that address virtually all aspects of project and technical management. That, of course, is appropriate for lengthier and more complex projects. However, the PMO can play a role in identifying the critical plans needed for most projects in the relevant organization, and it can identify those plans appropriate to smaller, less complex projects. This "planning support" function enables the PMO to:

  • Establish a preferred, common approach to project planning across all projects

  • Reduce the time and effort of project team planning activities

  • Facilitate meeting and workshop activities to prepare effective project plans

  • Introduce project planning process tools for use by project teams

Planning support is characterized by a considerable amount of PMO involvement in project team planning activities. The focus of this function is primarily on helping teams to prepare the project work plan — an essential ingredient for getting a project underway quickly and managing its progress. The work plan is likely the one project plan component that is required for every project regardless of size or complexity. After establishing the capability to prepare work plans, additional project plans and planning support activities can be introduced as the PMO grows in its own capability and capacity to expand such functionality.




The Complete Project Management Office Handbook
The Complete Project Management Office Handbook, Second Edition (ESI International Project Management Series)
ISBN: 1420046802
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 158

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