Chapter Summary

Putting together the project plan is a process of combining the creation of the Work Breakdown Structure and the assembly of your project team, and then mapping the project into a detailed structure of the work to be completed. As project manager, you realize the importance of the PND and determine how your project will be implemented. The project schedule will determine if the targeted date is reasonable with the resources available.

By using the Precedence Diagramming Method, you and your project team can map out the entire project from the start to end. Once the project network diagram has been created, schedule compression can be implemented, if needed, by designating tasks that may run concurrently or be completed faster with additional resources.

As the Project Network Diagram morphs from a simple timeline into an advanced diagram of events, you can use Microsoft Project to track changes, resources, and the impact of changes on a project s timeline. Microsoft Project allows a project manager to tweak constraints based on the type of activity involved and the sense of urgency for each task.

Creating the project plan is a type of alchemy. Adequate research, technical skills, and the ability to use logic and reason are required to create a solid, consistent plan for the project team, management, and the project manager to follow. Patience and vision are two attributes of a successful project manager. Just ask Noah.