The Purpose and Key Elements of Each Supplemental Project Plan

Before we get into some of the specific details of the facilitating planning processes, let's review all the key supplemental project plans referenced by the PMBOK. Given the breadth of subject material covered by these 21 project planning processes, as well as the wide range of experiences project managers have had with these supplemental plans, it may be helpful for your exam preparations to see all these in one place. This may be especially helpful if you are still coming to terms with the fact that a project plan and a project schedule are not the same thing. In Table 5.5, each supplemental project plan, its main purpose, and a few key elements are listed.

Table 5.5. Summary of Supplemental Project Plans

Supplemental Plan	Purpose	Key Elements/Notes
Communications plan	Describes how the information and communication needs of project stakeholders will be met	Often documented and presented in tabular form.
Configuration management plan	Describes how changes to project deliverables and work products will be controlled and managed	Should include both technical work products and project documentation.
Cost management plan	Describes how cost variances will be managed	The output of cost estimating. Documents planned responses to different variance levels.
Procurement management plan	Describes how the procurement process will be managed	Results from procurement planning. Contract types. Roles of project team and procurement department.
Quality management plan	Describes the project quality system	Should address both project work products and the project processes.
Responsibility matrix	Lists the project roles and responsibilities; cross-references roles with assigned resources	RACI matrix.
Risk management plan	Describes how the risk management process will be structured and performed	Describes the process to be used. Can include a budget. Can include a cost contingency.
Risk response plan	Describes the response strategies for identified risks	Risk register. Details action steps to be taken if risk event occurs.
Schedule management plan	Describes how changes to the schedule will be managed	Output of schedule development.
Scope management plan	Describes how the project scope will be managed and how scope changes will be integrated	Can include assessment of expected stability of the project scope.
Staffing management plan	Indicates when team members are needed on the project (start and end dates)	Can include resource histograms.

As noted by PMBOK, the formality and detail of each supplemental plan will vary depending on project need.

If an exam question asks about where you would find certain planning information, and both the project plan and the supplemental plan are answer options, the supplemental plan is regarded as the better response because it is more specific.