project management plan methodology

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• What is project planning? (Plus, 7 ste ...

What is project planning? (Plus, 7 steps to write a successful project plan)

Organize your projects with project plans to keep things on track—before you even start. A project plan houses all the necessary details of your project, such as goals, tasks, scope, deadlines, and deliverables. This shows stakeholders a clear roadmap of your project, ensures you have the resources for it, and holds everyone accountable from the start. In this article, we teach you the seven steps to create your own project plan.

Project plans are essential to keeping your project organized and on track. A great project plan will help you kick off your work with all the necessary pieces—from goals and budgets to milestones and communication plans—in one place. Save yourself time (and a few headaches) by creating a work plan that will make your project a success.

What is project planning?

Project planning is the second stage in the project management process, following project initiation and preceding project execution. During the project planning stage, the project manager creates a project plan, which maps out project requirements. The project planning phase typically includes setting project goals, designating project resources, and mapping out the project schedule.

What is a project plan?

If you're still unsure about what a project plan is, here's how it differs from other project elements:

Project plan vs. work plan: A project plan and a work plan are the same thing. Different teams or departments might prefer one term or another—but they both ultimately describe the same thing: a list of big-picture action steps you need to take to hit your  project objectives .

Project plan vs. project charter: A project charter is an outline of your project. Mostly, you use project charters to get signoff from key stakeholders before you start. Which means your project charter comes before your project plan. A project charter is an outline of a simple project plan—it should only include your project objectives, scope, and responsibilities. Then, once your charter has been approved, you can create a project plan to provide a more in-depth blueprint of the key elements of your project.

Project plan vs. project scope: Your project scope defines the size and boundaries of your project. As part of your project plan, you should outline and share the scope of your project with all project stakeholders. If you’re ever worried about scope creep , you can refer back to your pre-defined scope within your project plan to get back on track.

Project plan vs. agile project: Agile project management is a framework to help teams break work into iterative, collaborative components . Agile frameworks are often run in conjunction with scrum and sprint methodologies. Like any project, an Agile project team can benefit from having a project plan in place before getting started with their work.

Project plan vs. work breakdown structure: Similar to a project plan, your work breakdown structure (WBS) helps you with project execution. While the project plan focuses on every aspect of your project, the WBS is focused on deliverables—breaking them down into sub-deliverables and project tasks. This helps you visualize the whole project in simple steps. Because it’s a visual format, your WBS is best viewed as a Gantt chart (or timeline), Kanban board , or calendar—especially if you’re using project management software .

Why are project plans important?

Project plans set the stage for the entire project. Without one, you’re missing a critical step in the overall project management process . When you launch into a project without defined goals or objectives, it can lead to disorganized work, frustration, and even scope creep. A clear, written project management plan provides a baseline direction to all stakeholders, while also keeping everyone accountable. It confirms that you have the resources you need for the project before it actually begins.

A project plan also allows you, as the person in charge of leading execution, to forecast any potential challenges you could run into while the project is still in the planning stages. That way, you can ensure the project will be achievable—or course-correct if necessary. According to a study conducted by the  Project Management Institute , there is a strong correlation between project planning and project success—the better your plan, the better your outcome. So, conquering the planning phase also makes for better project efficiency and results.

7 steps to write a project plan to keep you on track

To create a clear project management plan, you need a way to track all of your moving parts . No matter what type of project you’re planning, every work plan should have:

Goals and project objectives

Success metrics

Stakeholders and roles

Scope and budget

Milestones , deliverables , and project dependencies

Timeline and schedule

Communication plan.

Not sure what each of these mean or should look like? Let’s dive into the details:

Step 1: Define your goals and objectives

You’re working on this project plan for a reason—likely to get you, your team, or your company to an end goal. But how will you know if you’ve reached that goal if you have no way of measuring success?

Every successful project plan should have a clear, desired outcome. Identifying your goals provides a rationale for your project plan. It also keeps everyone on the same page and focused on the results they want to achieve. Moreover, research shows that employees who know how their work is contributing to company objectives are 2X as motivated . Yet only 26% of employees have that clarity. That’s because most goal-setting happens separate from the actual work. By defining your goals within your work plan, you can connect the work your team is doing directly to the project objectives in real-time.

What's the difference between project goals and project objectives?

In general, your project goals should be higher-level than your project objectives. Your project goals should be SMART goals that help you measure project success and show how your project aligns with business objectives . The purpose of drafting project objectives, on the other hand, is to focus on the actual, specific deliverables you're going to achieve at the end of your project. Your project plan provides the direction your team needs to hit your goals, so you can create a workflow that hits project objectives.

Your project  plan  provides the direction your team needs to hit your goals, by way of your project objectives. By incorporating your goals directly into your planning documentation, you can keep your project’s North Star on hand. When you’re defining your project scope, or outlining your project schedule, check back on your goals to make sure that work is in favor of your main objectives.

Step 2: Set success metrics

Once you’ve defined your goals, make sure they’re measurable by setting key success metrics. While your goal serves as the intended result, you need success metrics to let you know whether or not you’re performing on track to achieve that result. The best way to do that is to set  SMART goals . With SMART goals, you can make sure your success metrics are clear and measurable, so you can look back at the end of your project and easily tell if you hit them or not.

For example, a goal for an event might be to host an annual 3-day conference for SEO professionals on June 22nd. A success metric for that goal might be having at least 1,000 people attend your conference. It’s both clear and measurable.

Step 3: Clarify stakeholders and roles

Running a project usually means getting  collaborators  involved in the execution of it. In your project management plan, outline which team members will be a part of the project and what each person’s role will be. This will help you decide who is responsible for each task (something we’ll get to shortly) and let stakeholders know how you expect them to be involved.

During this process, make sure to define the various roles and responsibilities your stakeholders might have. For example, who is directly responsible for the project’s success? How is your project team structured (i.e. do you have a project manager, a project sponsor , etc.)? Are there any approvers that should be involved before anything is finalized? What cross-functional stakeholders should be included in the project plan? Are there any  risk management factors  you need to include?

Consider using a system, such as a  RACI chart , to help determine who is driving the project forward, who will approve decisions, who will contribute to the project, and who needs to remain informed as the project progresses.

Then, once you’ve outlined all of your roles and stakeholders, make sure to include that documentation in your project plan. Once you finalize your plan, your work plan will become your cross-functional source of truth.

Step 4: Set your budget

Running a project usually costs money. Whether it’s hiring freelancers for content writing or a catering company for an event, you’ll probably be spending some cash.

Since you’ve already defined your goals and stakeholders as part of your project plan, use that information to establish your budget. For example, if this is a cross-functional project involving multiple departments, will the departments be splitting the project cost? If you have a specific goal metric like event attendees or new users, does your proposed budget support that endeavor?

By establishing your project budget during the project planning phase (and before the spending begins), you can get approval, more easily track progress, and make smart, economical decisions during the implementation phase of your project. Knowing your budget beforehand helps you with resource management , ensuring that you stay within the initial financial scope of the project. Planning helps you determine what parts of your project will cost what—leaving no room for surprises later on.

Step 5: Align on milestones, deliverables, and project dependencies

An important part of planning your project is setting milestones, or specific objectives that represent an achievement. Milestones don’t require a start and end date, but hitting one marks a significant accomplishment during your project. They are used to measure progress. For example, let’s say you’re working to develop a  new product for your company . Setting a milestone on your project timeline for when the prototype is finalized will help you measure the progress you’ve made so far.

A project deliverable , on the other hand, is what is actually produced once you meet a milestone. In our product development example, we hit a milestone when we produced the deliverable, which was the prototype. You can also use project dependencies —tasks that you can’t start until others are finished. Dependencies ensure that work only starts once it’s ready. Continuing the example, you can create a project dependency to require approval from the project lead before prototype testing begins.  

If you’re using our free project plan template , you can easily organize your project around deliverables, dependencies, and milestones. That way, everyone on the team has clear visibility into the work within your project scope, and the milestones your team will be working towards.

Step 6: Outline your timeline and schedule

In order to achieve your project goals, you and your stakeholders need clarity on your overall project timeline and schedule. Aligning on the time frame you have can help you better prioritize during strategic planning sessions.

Not all projects will have clear-cut timelines. If you're working on a large project with a few unknown dates, consider creating a  project roadmap  instead of a full-blown project timeline. That way, you can clarify the order of operations of various tasks without necessarily establishing exact dates.

Once you’ve covered the high-level responsibilities, it’s time to focus some energy on the details. In your  work plan template , start by breaking your project into tasks, ensuring no part of the process is skipped. Bigger tasks can even be broken down into smaller subtasks, making them more manageable.

Then, take each task and subtask, and assign it a start date and end date. You’ll begin to visually see everything come together in a  cohesive project timeline . Be sure to add stakeholders, mapping out who is doing what by when.

Step 7: Share your communication plan

We’ve established that most projects include multiple stakeholders. That means communication styles will vary among them. You have an opportunity to set your expectations up front for this particular project in your project plan. Having a communication plan is essential for making sure everyone understands what’s happening, how the project is progressing, and what’s going on next. And in case a roadblock comes up, you’ll already have a clear communication system in place.

As you’re developing your communication plan, consider the following questions:

How many project-related meetings do you need to have? What are their goals?

How will you manage project status updates ? Where will you share them?

What tool will you use to manage the project and communicate progress and updates?

Like the other elements of your project plan, make sure your communication plan is easily accessible within your project plan. Stakeholders and cross-functional collaborators should be able to easily find these guidelines during the planning and execution phases of your project. Using project planning tools or task management software that integrates with apps like Slack and Gmail can ensure all your communication happens in one easily accessible place. 

Example project plan

Next, to help you understand what your project management plan should look like, here are two example plans for marketing and design projects that will guide you during your own project planning.

Project plan example: annual content calendar

Let’s say you’re the Content Lead for your company, and it’s your responsibility to create and deliver on a content marketing calendar for all the content that will be published next year. You know your first step is to build your work plan. Here’s what it might look like:

Goals and success metrics

You establish that your goal for creating and executing against your content calendar is to increase engagement by 10%. Your success metrics are the open rate and click through rate on emails, your company’s social media followers, and how your pieces of content rank on search engines.

Stakeholders and each person’s role

There will be five people involved in this project.

You, Content Lead: Develop and maintain the calendar

Brandon and Jamie, Writers: Provide outlines and copy for each piece of content

Nate, Editor: Edit and give feedback on content

Paula, Producer: Publish the content once it’s written and edited

Your budget for the project plan and a year’s worth of content is $50,000.

Milestones and deliverables

Your first milestone is to finish the content calendar, which shows all topics for the year. The deliverable is a sharable version of the calendar. Both the milestone and the deliverables should be clearly marked on your project schedule.

You’ve determined that your schedule for your content calendar project plan will go as follows:

October 15 - November 1: The research phase to find ideas for topics for content

November 2 - November 30: Establish the topics you’ll write about

December 1 - January 1: Build the calendar

January 1 - December 31: Content will be written by Brandon and Jamie, and edited by Nate, throughout the year

January 16 - December 31: Paula will begin publishing and continue to do so on a rolling basis throughout the year.

You’ll have a kick-off meeting and then monthly update meetings as part of your communication plan. Weekly status updates will be sent on Friday afternoons. All project-related communication will occur within a  project management tool .

How ClassPass manages project plans from start to finish

Kerry Hoffman, Senior Project Manager of Marketing Operations at  ClassPass , oversees all marketing projects undertaken by the creative, growth, and content teams. Here are her top three strategies for managing project plans:

Identify stakeholders up front: No matter the size of the project, it’s critical to know who the stakeholders are and their role in the project so you ensure you involve the right people at each stage. This will also make the review and approval process clear before the team gets to work.

Agree on how you want to communicate about your project: Establish where and when communication should take place for your project to ensure that key information is captured in the right place so everyone stays aligned.

Be adaptable and learn other people’s working styles: Projects don’t always go according to plan, but by implementing proper integration management you can keep projects running smoothly. Also, find out how project members like to work so you take that into account as you create your plan. It will help things run smoother once you begin executing.

Write your next project plan like a pro

Congratulations—you’re officially a work planning pro. With a few steps, a little bit of time, and a whole lot of organization, you’ve successfully written a project plan.

Keep yourself and your team on track, and address challenges early by using project planning software like Asana . Work through each of the steps of your project plan with confidence, and streamline your communications with the team.

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Chapter 3: Project management methodologies

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There are many project management methodologies and frameworks out there, designed to assist with different types of projects. But how do you know which one is best for your efforts? 

In this section, we’ll walk through the most popular PM methodologies, and share advice for how to choose the best method to fit your needs.

Waterfall or traditional project management

Waterfall or traditional project management is based on a defined set of tasks that are completed sequentially to produce a final deliverable. This method of PM is simple and predictable, but not very flexible. 

Waterfall project management is ideal for projects with a single, large deliverable, like a building. While it’s less useful for projects that require a lot of flexibility, are subject to change, or require multiple, dependent tasks to be completed in tandem, like software development. 

The main benefits of Waterfall are tight planning and organization, and a high degree of control over each project task and the greater project schedule. That said, using Waterfall can make it difficult to adapt to unexpected events or changes to project scope, which can result in added time, resources, and cost.

Teams often use a Gantt chart , a visual timeline tool that maps out project tasks in succession, in Waterfall-managed projects. Learn more about Gantt charts in Chapter 9 .

To learn more about the phases and pros and cons of Waterfall, visit our in-depth guide to creating and using a Waterfall chart .

The Agile family

The Agile family is a category of project management methodologies that prioritizes flexibility and continuous improvement over rigid, sequential processes. There are many popular methodologies within Agile, and we’ve dug into each below.

Agile project management

In Agile project management , teams complete smaller, incremental tasks, and then continually review, refine, and iterate based on feedback and demands of the end users.

Agile project management was formalized in 2001 by a group of software developers intent on finding a more collaborative, flexible method to complete projects. The group documented their ideas in the Manifesto for Agile Development , which lays out the following four values:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

Agile PM prioritizes a collaborative relationship between the end user and the project team. The customer sets the project objectives, but the deliverables are subject to change as the team incrementally executes each project task. In Agile, each development feature is called a user story , which reflects how the end user will interact with it. 

Agile project management was initially intended for software development, but is now commonly used across a variety of industries and types of projects. Learn more about the Agile process and how to implement it by reading our comprehensive guide to Agile PM . 

Pros and cons of Agile project management

Agile is a good fit for projects that require a high degree of flexibility and are likely to shift as the project progresses. The top benefits of Agile include the following:

• Less upfront planning
• Increased open communication
• Continual feedback
• Flexible objectives 

When used effectively, Agile also often leads to speedier delivery.

However, there are some tradeoffs to this flexible approach: 

• Lack of concrete delivery date, which can lead to scope creep 
• A high degree of dedication and flexibility from the project team

Is Agile right for you?

Remember, Agile isn’t for everyone. The methodology is likely not right for your team if any of the following apply to you:

• Your project is not very urgent.
• Your client’s expectations don’t support Agile (e.g., they want to give final approval at every stage of the project, or incremental delivery isn’t appropriate for the project specs). 
• You or your client’s organization requires detailed documentation at every stage.
• Your current processes are not set up for a more flexible approach.
• Your team or organization doesn’t currently use Agile, and implementing it would be too costly or time consuming.

In the following sections, we’ll go over other methodologies that fall within the Agile family.

Additional Resources

The ultimate agile dictionary, free agile project management templates, best practices for agile project planning.

Scrum , the most popular Agile methodology, involves smaller teams that complete tasks in short, time-bound periods, called sprints , in order to incrementally work through pieces of a larger project or release.

Scrum typically leads to greater responsiveness in customer relationships, lower costs of development, increased job satisfaction, and more immediate returns. Scrum is a fluid practice that takes many moving parts, teams, and goals into consideration as the project progresses. 

Scrum teams also engage in four regular meetings, or ceremonies , which provide structure to each sprint: 

• Sprint planning: At this meeting, the product is presented and everyone on the Scrum team voices any concerns and feedback. The team designates priorities and estimates the timeline.
• Daily stand-up: The Scrum team meets daily during the sprint to debrief with the team, establish a daily plan, and voice any concerns so the team can address them together.
• Sprint review: Held at the end of each sprint, this meeting is a review of the working product and gives stakeholders transparency into what the team accomplished during the sprint.
• Sprint retrospective: The sprint retrospective is a meeting that occurs after each sprint to discuss team performance and establish ways to improve future efforts.

Each Scrum team has designated members who own specific pieces of the process. These roles include the following:

• Product owner: Possesses a thorough understanding of the product’s business value and serves as the middleman who communicates the stakeholder needs to the development team and writes and prioritizes user stories.
• Development team: Performs the technical development of the product and is responsible for the analysis, design, code writing, testing, and technical communication based on the user stories provided by the product owner.
• Scrum Master: Assists in the progress of the Scrum team by working hand-in-hand with the product owner and the development team to streamline work and eliminate distractions. 

As with Agile, Scrum is popular in software development, but it can also be deployed successfully across marketing, design, and other creative projects. Learn more by reading our guide to implementing Scrum with the right tools .

Kanban is an Agile framework that prioritizes continuous improvement , an ongoing effort to improve a product or service incrementally. Kanban teams complete work items based on team capacity and manage resources using a visual kanban board that shows task status.

Kanban originated in Japan in the 1940s. Based on what he had seen in supermarkets, Toyota engineer Taiichi Ohno implemented a supply-and-demand method on the factory floor, which greatly improved the company’s inventory management. 

Teams at Toyota created a visual cue (a kanban, which translates to “visual sign” or “card”) to communicate that they were ready to “pull,” or take on, more tasks or materials to complete their work. This approach enabled workers to only take on new tasks when they had capacity for them, which reduced excess work in progress (WIP) . This style of work is now known as the just-in-time (JIT) approach.

How to use a kanban board

The Kanban methodology centers on the kanban board, which is either a physical or digital “board” that includes three columns (or lanes ): to-do, doing, and done. Team members move cards, representing individual tasks, to different columns as a way to track task status. This provides a quick view of how items are progressing and ensures teams have adequate capacity to take on new work.

In recent years, teams have moved to online, digital kanban boards, which helps distributed teams collaborate on projects and gain real-time visibility into the work getting done. You can learn more about setting up a Kanban board with our guide . 

Pros and cons of Kanban

Overall, Kanban is great for teams that have many incoming requests, short work cycles, and flexibility with resources and scheduling. However, Kanban can be difficult for teams that work on many interconnected, dependent tasks, or have tight deadlines to adhere to. 

To learn more about implementing kanban from the ground up, read our complete guide for newbies .

Critical path method

Critical path method (CPM) is a technique for estimating the total duration of a project by identifying the order in which you must complete all project tasks, and then mapping out your sequenced tasks, called dependencies .

CPM follows the basic steps below:

• Identify all project tasks.
• Identify dependencies among tasks.
• Estimate the duration of each task. 
• Add up the durations to calculate the total duration of your project. 
• Update the critical path as the project progresses to compare estimated vs. actual timelines.

CPM helps teams reduce project timelines by identifying and scheduling the most important tasks and then scheduling other tasks to happen in parallel. CPM also helps with project planning, as you can easily reference estimated vs. actual project schedules and more accurately estimate how long each task will take on future projects.

Learn more about the steps and advantages of the method with our beginner’s guide to the CPM .

The change management methodologies

Change management is an umbrella term for techniques that help individuals, teams, and organizations implement new processes or achieve organizational change. In this section, we’ll cover event chain and extreme project management. 

To learn more, visit our essential guide to change management , or find free change management templates .

Event Chain methodology

In event chain methodology , you identify tasks (events) and their relationships (event chains) in order to properly allocate resources and assess and reduce project risk. 

The goal of event chain is to estimate the amount of time and resources you need to complete a project. This method follows some of the same steps as the critical path method — you also break down activities into smaller tasks and outline their dependencies and durations. But, in event chain, you do so to create a realistic timeline and budget, rather than to simply better manage the tasks (and task order).

Event chain can also serve as a modeling technique to create more conservative scheduling estimates, which ultimately improves performance by building in time to address unforeseen risks.

This methodology is often used in change management efforts to eliminate the need to overhaul projects, which can be extremely time consuming and resource-heavy.

Extreme project management

Extreme project management (XP or XPM) is used to manage a massive amount of change in a short period of time. XPM is ideal for fast-paced, complex projects that can handle a trial-and-error approach to successfully pull off the effort.

Think of XPM as the opposite of Waterfall methodology. As opposed to valuing a linear, planned project development process, XPM allows you to change your project plan, budget, and the final deliverable as requirements shift. In XPM, the onus is on the project team to self-correct and shift as necessary. 

Extreme project management works well for projects with a high-degree of uncertainty, but is less useful for projects with a clear-cut timeline, budget, and scope.

The process-based methodologies

Process-based methodologies approach work as a collection of processes, rather than a strict methodology that you apply to a single project. These approaches are sometimes used as part of a larger business process management (BPM) strategy.

Lean is an approach aimed at maximizing value while minimizing waste. When deployed properly, Lean helps to identify and eliminate bottlenecks, delays, and other inefficiencies in order to deliver value faster.

Lean originated in manufacturing in the 1950s, but it has evolved over time and is used today across industries. As laid out in the book Lean Thinking , Lean involves the following five core principles and activities:

• Define value: Identify the value of each product or service in the eyes of the customer. 
• Map the value stream: Map out the process (aka value stream ) and identify areas of waste, in terms of  resources, time, or redundancy.
• Create flow: Create a flow plan that eliminates the waste you identified. 
• Employ a pull system: Progress through the plan only as the customer has new needs. Doing so will prevent you from taking on too much at once, or creating a bottleneck at any stage of the process. 
• Pursue perfection: Using the idea of continuous improvement, aim to eliminate as much waste as possible from your process. 

Visit our comprehensive guide to Lean project management to learn more about different types of Lean methodologies and the best tools for implementing Lean.

Six Sigma is a process improvement methodology that aims to improve quality across projects. Six Sigma takes a statistical approach to measuring and eliminating bugs or defects in project deliverables and raising quality standards.

The basic steps in Six Sigma include finding defects, identifying and eliminating their cause(s), and optimizing processes to increase reliability and accuracy going forward. 

Building off the Lean principle of pursuing perfection, Six Sigma aims to eliminate all opportunities for defects by using data-driven improvement cycles to achieve its goal. 

There are two main Six Sigma methodologies:

• DMAIC: This stands for define , measure, analyze, improve, control , and is intended to help you improve existing processes.
• DMADV: This stands for define, measure, analyze, improve, verify, and is best for when creating new processes or products.

There is no single, formal certification body for Six Sigma, but many organizations offer training so teams can learn to implement the practice in their organization. Read our article on Six Sigma belts and certifications to learn more. 

Six Sigma works well for teams who are interested in implementing data-driven ways to reduce defects and optimize business processes, but is less ideal for those looking for a strict set of steps to follow.

Read our in-depth guide to all things Six Sigma to learn more.

Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma is a hybrid approach to process improvement that combines the Lean principle of no waste and the Six Sigma principle of no defects to improve quality across processes, projects, and products.

Lean Six Sigma offers the following benefits:

• Increased cost savings due to fewer bugs or defects
• Improved quality
• Time savings due to fewer process issues
• Improved data-driven decision making
• Continuous process improvement throughout the organization

While Lean Six Sigma originated in manufacturing, a variety of industries can deploy it to reap benefits. The most common use cases include healthcare, construction, design, and government.

All About Lean Six Sigma

Free lean six sigma templates, other project management methodologies.

Below, you’ll find details on a few more project management methodologies that are gaining traction in the modern PM world.

PRINCE2 , or Projects in Controlled Environments , is a project management methodology that focuses on defining and delivering work against precise requirements. As opposed to Agile PM, PRINCE2 emphasizes intense planning and documentation of work items.

PRINCE2 is a hybrid methodology initially used for information technology (IT) projects to help reduce cost and time overruns. Now, it’s deployed across many different industries. 

This approach works well for projects with a clearly defined goal. However, if you need more flexibility, or don’t have time to properly plan and document work, Agile methods might be a better option.

PRiSM , or Projects Integrating Sustainable Methods , is a modern project management methodology that values sustainability over all else. The goal of PRiSM projects is to reduce the environmental impact of a project and drive meaningful social impact.

The PRiSM model is based on the following six principles: 

• Commitment and accountability 
• Ethical decision making 
• Integration and transparency 
• Principal and values-based deployments 
• Social and ecological equity 
• Economic prosperity

Implementing PRiSM is a long term mindset shift that puts sustainability and equity at the center of all processes and projects and aims to maximize value for all involved.

Why you should choose a PM methodology for your organization

Choosing an organization-wide project management method ensures teams have a consistent guideline for how to manage each aspect of their projects, like resources, budget, communication, timeline, and more.

Of course, some teams and projects require different levels of planning, flexibility, and documentation. And, it can be overwhelming to choose one “perfect” approach when there are so many options out there.

But, by assessing the types of projects that you typically take on — as well as your existing processes — you can identify the most effective methodology for you.

In some cases, organizations may select multiple project management types to meet the requirements of different projects and teams.

How to choose the best PM methodology for you

To identify the right project management methodology, first consider the details of your project. Then, assess your existing systems and processes. Look at both what you need as well as what you already have in place to select the best method.

Ask yourself the following questions to evaluate your project needs:

Project basics

• What is the project’s focus?
• What industry are you in?
• How complex is the project?
• Is the project scalable?  

Flexibility

• How flexible are your timeline, budget, and deliverables?
• How much planning do you need to do beforehand?
• What is your allotted budget, and how flexible is it?
• What resources do you have, and what additional resources do you need to obtain?
• How flexible is your timeline?
• Are there set start and end dates?
• Does your project have key milestones or a critical path?

Roles and responsibilities

• How many people or teams are working together on this project?
• How specialized is the work?
• What is the level of customer and stakeholder involvement?

After you’ve worked through the project-related questions, follow these steps to identify which methodology aligns best:

• Outline the main variables, like timeline, resources, and budget, that will drive the project.
• Consider how the methodology you choose will impact these variables, such as how a more flexible approach might affect a hard-and-fast deadline.
• Weigh the pros and cons of each methodology against the needs of your project. Think both about which will be the best fit and which will be least disruptive to your current processes.
• Collaborate with other team members to get input.
• Roll out the methodology to the team. This includes educating everyone on the new processes and setting up the necessary tools and documentation systems.
• Apply the methodology to the project and monitor it for success.

Here’s a simplified cheat sheet you can use to identify which methodology will work for your next project:

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12 Project Management Methodologies: Types, Tools, Techniques, And How to Choose

Written By : Bakkah

10 Jun 2024

Table of Content

Definition of Project Management Methodologies:

Types of project management methodologies, project management methodologies tools , project management methodologies techniques, how to choose a project management methodology, explore bakkah's leading courses to boost your skills in project management and business analysis:, popular articles.

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Project management methodologies are systematic frameworks and guidelines utilized by organizations to efficiently plan, execute, and complete projects. They offer structured approaches to project management, ensuring adherence to timelines , budgets , and objectives . These methodologies encompass diverse principles, practices, and tools designed to facilitate effective communication and coordination among project-implementing teams. 

Project management methodologies vary in their approach, with some emphasizing flexibility and adaptability (e.g., Agile) while others focus on sequential and structured processes (e.g., Waterfall). The appropriate methodology must be selected according to the type of project and its unique circumstances. The goal is to enhance project efficiency, minimize risks, and deliver high-quality results, ultimately contributing to achieving the specified goals and objectives of the project.

Project management methodologies refer to the systematic frameworks, processes, and guidelines organizations follow to plan, execute, monitor, and complete projects. These methodologies provide a structured approach to managing projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and meet the specified goals and objectives.

Project management methodologies encompass diverse principles, practices, and tools designed to facilitate effective communication and coordination among project-implementing teams.

They can vary in their approach, with some methodologies emphasizing flexibility and adaptability (e.g., Agile ), while others focus on sequential and structured processes (e.g., Waterfall ). The appropriate methodology must be selected according to the type of project and its unique circumstances.

The goal of Project Management Methodologies is to enhance project efficiency, minimize risks, and deliver high-quality results, ultimately contributing to achieving the specified goals and objectives of the project.

Various tools support their implementation, enhancing collaboration and communication, while diverse techniques facilitate effective project planning, execution, and control.

There are diverse project management methodologies, each with different principles, processes, and approaches. Here are some common types:

1. Waterfall Methodology

Waterfall project management is a traditional approach to project management where tasks are completed sequentially and linearly. 

The methodology is called "waterfall" because progress is seen as flowing steadily downwards through phases, like a waterfall. Each phase must be completed before moving on to the next one, and changes to the project are generally not allowed once a phase is closed.

Here are the main phases in the waterfall project management methodology:

• Requirements: Define project scope , objectives, and deliverables.
• Design: Create a detailed plan for how the solution meets requirements.
• Implementation (or Construction): Include coding or construction of the project.
• Testing: Ensure the project meets specified requirements through various testing phases.
• Deployment (or Implementation): Implement the project in the production environment after the success of testing.
• Maintenance and Support: Address issues and user concerns and make updates as needed.

The waterfall methodology is best suited for projects where the requirements are well-understood and unlikely to change significantly during the development process.

It is often used in industries like construction and manufacturing. However, one of its main drawbacks is its inflexibility to adapt to changes once the project has started, as it does not easily accommodate changes in requirements.

2. Agile Methodology

Agile methodology is an iterative and flexible approach to project management that focuses on collaboration, adaptability, and customer satisfaction.

Unlike the linear nature of the waterfall model, agile divides a project into small increments with minimal planning and delivers functional pieces of the project in short time frames, known as iterations or sprints.

Primary principles and practices of agile include:

• Projects are divided into small manageable iterations, delivering potentially shippable product increments.
• Collaboration and communication between team members, stakeholders , and customers are crucial for quick adaptation to changes and alignment with goals.
• Continuous customer feedback allows for adjustments based on changing requirements.
• Agile is flexible and adaptable to changes in requirements or priorities at any stage.
• Continuous delivery aims for a potentially shippable product at the end of each iteration, allowing for early and regular value delivery to the customer.
• Prioritization and timeboxing based on value and importance ensure focus and urgency in delivering value.
• Agile encourages self-organizing, cross-functional team formation that collectively possess the necessary skills to deliver a complete product.

Popular agile frameworks include Scrum , Kanban , and Extreme Programming (XP), each with specific practices and roles. 

Agile is widely used in software development and various industries for its adaptability and customer-centric approach.

3. Scrum Framework

Scrum is one of the most widely used agile frameworks for managing complex software development projects. It provides a structured yet flexible approach to product development.

Key elements of the Scrum framework include:

• Roles: Include Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team.
• Artifacts: Comprise the Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment.
• Events: Include Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-up, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective.

Scrum's iterative and incremental approach, along with its emphasis on collaboration and adaptability, makes it particularly effective for projects where requirements may change or evolve during development.

4. Kanban Methodology

Kanban is a project management methodology that visualizes workflow using boards, cards, and columns. It also limits tasks that are in progress simultaneously to prevent overloading the team and ensure a steady flow of work.

Emphasizing continuous improvement, Kanban employs feedback loops and a pull system, adapting work based on demand. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are often used in Kanban to define the expected time frames.

Known for flexibility and adaptability, Kanban suits various industries like architecture, construction, marketing, education, software development, design, and law. Kanban fosters collaboration and shared responsibility and allows incremental process improvements based on specific needs and context.

5. Lean Project Management

Lean Project Management (LPM) is an approach to project management that draws inspiration from Lean principles. The Lean philosophy focuses on minimizing waste, optimizing efficiency, and continuously improving processes.

Lean principles are applied to enhance project delivery, reduce unnecessary activities, and deliver value more effectively. 

Principal aspects of Lean Project Management methodology include eliminating waste, using value stream mapping, continuous improvement (Kaizen) , customer focus, pull scheduling, visual management, batch size reduction, flexible planning, and cross-functional team use. LPM is suitable for industries like manufacturing, construction, and software development.

Its focus on efficiency and customer value makes it a valuable approach for organizations seeking to optimize their project delivery processes.

6. PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments)

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a widely adopted project management methodology developed by the UK government. It provides a structured and process-driven approach to project management, emphasizing flexibility and adaptability.

PRINCE2 divides projects into manageable stages, with defined roles and responsibilities, ensuring organized and controlled project execution.

The methodology consists of seven processes:

• Starting Up a Project (SU): Ensures project prerequisites are in place.
• Initiating a Project (IP): Defines project scope, objectives, and plans.
• Directing a Project (DP): Provides senior management with chief controls.
• Controlling a Stage (CS): Manages day-to-day project activities.
• Managing Product Delivery (MP): Ensures efficient product work.
• Managing a Stage Boundary (SB): Focuses on transitioning between stages.
• Closing a Project (CP): Formally closes the project and ties up loose ends.

PRINCE2 is known for its focus on continuous improvement and adaptability, making it a valuable tool for delivering successful projects within time, cost, and quality constraints.

Boost your career with Bakkah’s PRINCE2 courses:

• PRINCE2® Training Course Online
• PRINCE2® Agile Foundation & Practitioner Online Course and Certification

7. Critical Path Method (CPM)

Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project management technique that identifies the critical path of activities, potential risks, team roles, and the sequence of tasks determining the shortest project duration. Key steps:

• Task Breakdown: Identify and sequence project tasks. 
• Duration Estimation: Assign time estimates to tasks.
• Network Diagram: Create a visual representation of task dependencies.
• Critical Path Identification: Find the path critical for project completion.
• Float/Slack Calculation: Determine non-critical task flexibility.
• Resource Allocation: Efficiently allocate resources.
• Monitoring and Control: Monitor progress continuously, update schedules, and take corrective actions., update schedules, and take corrective actions.

CPM is an essential tool for effective project planning and control. It aids in prioritizing critical tasks, managing time constraints, and optimizing project schedules. CMP can be used in several projects, such as engineering, manufacturing, construction, and science.

8. Six Sigma ( Continuous Improvement Methodology)

Six Sigma is a data-driven project management methodology focused on improving process efficiency continuously and reducing defects or errors. Developed by Motorola in the 1980s, Six Sigma seeks to minimize variations and achieve higher levels of quality in processes. It is often applied in manufacturing and process improvement projects. Here is a concise overview of the Six Sigma project management methodology:

• Define (D): Clearly articulate the problem, project goals , scope, and customer requirements.
• Measure (M): Establish metrics, collect data, and measure baseline performance.
• Analyze (A): Use statistical tools to identify root causes of defects or inefficiencies.
• Improve (I): Develop and implement solutions, testing and refining as needed.
• Control (C): Establish measures to sustain improvements and prevent the recurrence of defects or issues.

The Six Sigma methodology is often represented by the acronym DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). Additionally, for more complex or considerable process changes, there is another phase known as DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify).

Bakkah provides certification levels such as Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt are available for individuals to demonstrate proficiency in applying Six Sigma principles and methodologies. Organizations implementing Six Sigma often experience enhanced efficiency, reduced defects, and improved customer satisfaction.

9. RAD (Rapid Application Development)

Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a project development methodology that prioritizes quick iterations and prototypes over extensive planning.

It involves user participation throughout the process, parallel development of system components, and a flexible, adaptive approach. Prototyping is a key feature, allowing for continuous refinement based on user feedback. RAD aims to deliver a functional product rapidly, focusing on time and cost efficiency.

Popular RAD tools include Microsoft Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, and OutSystems. The methodology suits projects with changing requirements but may not be ideal for highly structured endeavors.

10. Incremental and Iterative Methodologies

Incremental development involves dividing the project into small increments, each delivering a part of the final product's functionality linearly. User feedback is integrated after each increment, providing ongoing adaptability and the ability to identify and correct issues early. This approach enables early delivery and reduced project risk.

On the other hand, iterative development goes through cycles or iterations, refining the entire system with each iteration. It is highly flexible and accommodates changing requirements throughout the development process.

11. Hybrid Methodologies

Hybrid methodologies in project development involve blending elements from different traditional and agile approaches to create a flexible and tailored solution. That allows teams to adapt practices based on the project's unique requirements, leveraging both structured planning and iterative development. 

In a hybrid methodology, the most appropriate elements from each methodology are identified and combined harmoniously. Examples include combining Waterfall and Scrum or integrating lean principles with agile practices.

The goal is to manage risks effectively, enhance flexibility, and address the project-specific needs. Effective communication is crucial to mitigate potential challenges introduced by diverse practices integration.

12. Extreme Programming (XP)

XP is an Agile methodology that emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and delivering high-quality software through practices such as continuous testing and frequent releases.

Extreme Programming methodology is one of the famous methodologies for managing and developing software and other technical projects. It is based on diverse principles and practices, focusing on increasing software quality and improving team productivity.

A team needs to follow this method if the project is fast-paced or subject to regular change and thus has a dynamic rather than static nature.

The Extreme methodology also aims to achieve productive cooperation between team members and increase the quality of the final product and its flexibility in the face of changes.

Here are the main principles and practices of Extreme Programming:

• XP is built on a set of core values, including communication, simplicity, feedback, and courage.
• Developers work in pairs, one writing code and the other reviewing it in real-time. That promotes collaboration, knowledge sharing, and code quality.
• Developers write tests before writing the actual code. That ensures that the code meets specifications and facilitates maintenance and updates.
• Code is integrated frequently to identify and address integration issues early in the development process.
• XP improves code design regularly without changing its functionality.
• XP keeps the design as simple as possible, making it easier to understand, modify, and maintain.
• Frequent and direct interaction with the customer allows for quick adjustments to changing requirements and priorities.
• XP emphasizes continuous improvement through regular reflection on the development process and changes in implementation to enhance efficiency and quality.

Bakkah provides a variety of accredited project management Courses for all professional certificates in project management, risk management, and others.

In brief, choosing the most suitable project management methodology depends on factors such as project size, complexity, industry, and organizational culture. Project managers often customize or combine methodologies to best fit the unique requirements of their projects.

Project management methodologies are often supported and implemented using various tools to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and communication throughout the project lifecycle. Here are some commonly used tools associated with project management methodologies:

1. Project Management Software

Tools like Microsoft Project, Asana, Jira, Trello, and Monday.com provide features for project planning , scheduling , task assignment, and progress tracking.

2. Version Control Systems

Git, SVN (Subversion), and Mercurial help manage changes to source code and documentation, ensuring version control and collaboration in software development projects.

3. Communication and Collaboration Tools

Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Discord facilitate real-time communication, file sharing, and collaboration among team members, supporting Agile and remote work environments.

4. Gantt Charts

Tools like GanttPRO and SmartDraw help create visual representations of project timelines, tasks, and dependencies, commonly used in Waterfall and traditional project management methodologies.

5. Kanban Boards

Trello, KanbanFlow, and LeanKit enable teams to visualize work and optimize workflow, particularly in Agile and Lean methodologies.

6. Scrum Tools

Jira, VersionOne, and Targetprocess support the Scrum framework with features for sprint planning, backlog management, and burndown charts.

7. Resource Management Tools

Workfront, Mavenlink, and TeamGantt assist in resource allocation, workload tracking, and managing team capacity in project management.

8. Risk Management Tools

RiskWatch, RiskyProject, and ProjectManager.com help identify, assess, and manage risks throughout the project lifecycle.

9. Collaborative Document Management

Tools like SharePoint, Google Workspace, and Dropbox Business enable teams to collaborate on documents, share project-related files, and ensure version control.

10. Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) Tools

Jenkins, Travis CI, and GitLab CI/CD automate integration code changes process and deploying software, commonly used in Agile and DevOps methodologies.

11. Time Tracking and Timesheet Tools

Harvest, Toggl, and Clockify assist in tracking project-related activities, allowing for accurate time management and resource allocation.

12. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools

Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM support customer-centric projects. That helps teams manage client interactions, feedback, and requirements.

Project managers and teams should carefully select tools that align with their chosen methodologies and project requirements. Integrating these tools can significantly improve project management efficiency and contribute to successful project outcomes.

Project management methodologies involve various techniques to plan, execute, and control projects effectively. Here are some commonly used techniques associated with project management methodologies:

1. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Break a project into smaller, manageable tasks and create a hierarchical structure to define clearly the scope and deliverables.

2. PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) and CPM (Critical Path Method)

Techniques for scheduling and managing tasks by identifying critical paths and dependencies and estimating project duration.

2. SWOT Analysis

Evaluate the project's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies.

3. Risk Management

Identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risks throughout the project lifecycle to minimize potential negative impacts.

4. Stakeholder Analysis

Identify and analyze stakeholders to understand their interests, influence, and expectations and ensure effective communication and engagement.

5. PERT Charts (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)

Graphical representations of project tasks and their dependencies, helping visualize the project schedule and critical path.

6. Scrum Meetings

Daily Standups, Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective are regular Scrum meetings that facilitate communication and collaboration in Agile projects.

7. Earned Value Management (EVM)

Analyze project performance by measuring the planned value, earned value, and actual cost to assess progress and forecast future performance.

8. Quality Management

Implement techniques such as quality audits, inspections, and control charts to ensure project deliverables meet predefined quality standards.

9. Mind Mapping

Visualize project ideas, requirements, and tasks using mind maps to stimulate creative thinking and organize information in a structured way.

10. Critical Chain Method

Identify and manage resource dependencies to optimize project schedules and improve overall performance.

11. Prototyping

Creating a working model or prototype of a product or system to gather feedback early in the development process is common in Agile and iterative methodologies.

12. Benchmarking

Compare project performance metrics and processes against industry standards or best practices to identify areas for improvement.

13. Dependency Mapping

Identify and visualize dependencies between different tasks or project activities to understand their interrelationships and potential impacts.

14. Agile Estimation Techniques

Use techniques like Planning Poker, Relative Sizing, and Story Points to estimate the effort required for Agile project tasks.

15. Change Management

Implement strategies and techniques to manage and communicate changes effectively, ensuring minimal disruptions to project progress.

16. Communication Plans

Developing plans outlines how project information will be communicated to stakeholders, ensuring clear and consistent communication.

These techniques are often applied based on the specific requirements, characteristics, and principles of the chosen project management methodology. Project managers may tailor and combine these techniques to suit the needs of their projects.

Choosing a suitable project management methodology is crucial for the success of a project. The decision should be based on the project's characteristics, team dynamics, organizational culture, and the nature of the work to be performed. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to choose a project management methodology:

1. Understand Project Requirements

Clearly define the project scope, objectives, and deliverables. Consider the size, complexity, and nature of the project work.

2. Assess Team Skills and Experience

Evaluate the skills and experience of the project team. Consider their familiarity with different methodologies and their adaptability to new approaches.

3. Consider Project Flexibility

Assess the level of flexibility required throughout the project. Some projects may benefit from a more adaptive and iterative approach, while others may require a more structured and sequential process.

4. Examine Project Constraints

Identify any constraints such as budget limitations, time constraints, regulatory requirements, or client preferences that may influence the choice of methodology.

5. Evaluate Organizational Culture

Consider the existing organizational culture and whether it aligns with the principles of certain project management methodologies. Some organizations may prefer traditional, plan-driven approaches, while others may be more receptive to Agile or iterative methods.

6. Define Stakeholder Involvement

Determine the level of involvement and collaboration required from project stakeholders. Some methodologies, like Agile, emphasize continuous stakeholder engagement and feedback.

7. Analyze Project Risks

Evaluate the potential risks associated with the project. Some methodologies, such as Agile, are well-suited for projects with high uncertainty and evolving requirements.

8. Review Industry Standards

Consider industry standards and best practices. Certain industries or project types may have specific guidelines or regulations that align with particular methodologies.

9. Explore Hybrid Approaches

Assess the possibility of combining elements from different methodologies to create a hybrid approach tailored to the project's specific needs.

10. Pilot or Prototype

If feasible, consider running a pilot or prototype using a small-scale version of the project to test how well a methodology fits the team and project requirements.

11. Consult with Stakeholders

Seek input from key stakeholders, including team members, clients, and sponsors. Understand their preferences, expectations, and concerns regarding project management approaches.

12. Training and Transition Plan

Evaluate the readiness of the team to adopt a new methodology. Plan for necessary training and establish a transition plan to smoothly implement the chosen methodology.

13. Continuous Improvement

Be open to evaluating and adjusting the chosen methodology throughout the project. Continuous improvement is essential to address evolving project needs and improve overall project management processes.

Elevate your project management skills with Bakkah Learning's expert-led courses. From PMP to Prince2, Six Sigma to Agile, we offer tailored programs to suit your career goals. With interactive learning, flexible access, and certification preparation, we're your partner for professional growth. Start your journey to mastery today with Bakkah Learning!

Here are some Project Management Courses :

• Certified Associate in Project Management CAPM Course
• PMI-ACP® certification
• PgMP certification
• PMI Scheduling Professional - PMI-SP certification

Risk Management Courses And Certifications:

• Risk Management Professional - PMI-RMP Course
• MoR Certification and course

PRINCE2 Courses

• PRINCE2 Certification
• PRINCE2 Agile.

Project Management Tools:

• Primavera P6 Course
• MSP Course - Managing Successful Programmes
• Microsoft Project training course  

Portfolio Management

• P3O Foundation certification
• Management of Portfolios MoP
• The Portfolio Management Professional – PfMP certificate
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Course
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Course
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Course

Ultimately, the choice of a project management methodology should be a thoughtful and informed decision that aligns with the unique characteristics of the project and the organization. Regularly reassess the chosen methodology to ensure its continued effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.

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Blog Marketing What is a Project Management Plan and How to Create One

What is a Project Management Plan and How to Create One

Written by: Midori Nediger Dec 11, 2023

Have you ever been part of a project that didn’t go as planned?

It doesn’t feel good.

Wasted time, wasted resources. It’s pretty frustrating for everyone involved.

That’s why it’s so important to create a comprehensive project management plan   before your project gets off the ground.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to create and design a successful project management plan.

We’ll also showcase easy-to-customize project plan templates you can create today with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor. Let’s get started!

  Click to jump ahead:

What is a project management plan?

How do you write a project management plan, project management plan templates and examples, what is the importance of a project management plan, what should a project management plan include, 5 key tips for creating a project management plan, project management plan best practices, common mistakes to avoid when creating a project management plan.

A project management plan is a formal document that defines how a project is going to be carried out by outlining the scope, goals, budget, timeline and deliverables of a project. Its crucial role lies in ensuring the project stays on course.

You write a project plan  during the project planning stage of the  project life cycle , and it must be approved by stakeholders before a project can move on the execution stage.

If some of these terms are new to you, you can get up to speed with this post on project management terms . 

This means your project plan must be engaging, organized, and thorough enough to gain the support of your stakeholders.

Further Reading : New to project management? Read our blog post on the 4 stages of the project life cycle .

To write a successful project management plan, follow these 5 steps below to create an effective plan that serves as a valuable tool for project management:

1. Highlight the key elements of your project plan in an executive summary  

An executive summary is a brief description of the key contents of a project management plan .

I t’s usually the first thing stakeholders will read, and it should act like a Cliff’s-notes version of the whole plan.

It might touch on a project’s value proposition, goals, deliverables, and important milestones, but it has to be concise (it is a summary, after all). First, make sure you develop a proof of concept .

In this example, an executive summary can be broken into columns to contrast the existing problem with the project solution:

The two-column format with clear headers helps break up the information, making it extremely easy to read at a glance.

Here’s another example of a project management plan executive summary. This one visually highlights key takeaways with big fonts and helpful icons:

In this case, the highlighted facts and figures are particularly easy to scan (which is sure to make your stakeholders happy).

But your executive summary won’t always be so simple.

For larger projects, your executive summary will be longer and more detailed.

This project management plan template has a text-heavy executive summary, though the bold headers and different background colors keep it from looking overwhelming:

It’s also a good idea to divide it up into sections, with a dedicated header for each section:

Regardless of how you organize your executive summary, it should give your stakeholders a preview of what’s to come in the rest of the project management plan.

2. Plot your project schedule visually with a Gantt chart

A carefully planned project schedule is key to the success of any project. Without one, your project will likely crumble into a mess of missed deadlines, poor team management, and scope creep.

Luckily, project planning tools like Gantt charts and project timelines make creating your project schedule easy. You can visually plot each project task, add major milestones, then look for any dependencies or conflicts that you haven’t accounted for.

For example, this Gantt chart template outlines high-level project activities over the course of an entire quarter, with tasks color-coded by team:

A high-level roadmap like the one above is probably sufficient for your project management plan. Every team will be able to refer back to this timeline throughout the project to make sure they’re on track.

But before project kickoff , you’ll need to dig in and break down project responsibilities by individual team member, like in this Gantt chart example:

In the later execution and monitoring phases of the project, you’ll thank yourself for creating a detailed visual roadmap that you can track and adjust as things change.

You can also use a project management tool to keep your team organized.

Further Reading:   Our post featuring  Gantt chart examples  and more tips on how to use them for project management.

3. Clarify the structure of your project team with a team org chart

One of the hardest aspects of project planning is assembling a team and aligning them to the project vision.

And aligning your team is all about communication–communicating the project goals, communicating stakeholder requests, communicating the rationale behind big decisions…the list goes on.

This is where good project documentation is crucial! You need to create documents that your team and your stakeholders can access when they have questions or need guidance.

One easy thing to document visually is the structure of your team, with an organizational chart like this one:

In an organizational chart you should include some basic information like team hierarchy and team member contact information. That way your stakeholders have all of the information they need at their fingertips.

But in addition to that, you can indicate the high-level responsibilities of each team member and the channels of communication within the team (so your team knows exactly what they’re accountable for).

Here’s another simple organizational structure template that you can use as a starting point:

Create an organizational chart with our organizational chart maker .

4. Organize project risk factors in a risk breakdown structure

A big part of project planning is identifying the factors that are likely to derail your project, and coming up with plans and process to deal with those factors. This is generally referred to as risk management .

The first step in coming up with a risk management plan is to list all of the factors at play, which is where a risk breakdown structure comes in handy. A risk breakdown structure is a hierarchical representation of project risks, organized by category.

This risk breakdown structure template, for example, shows project risk broken down into technical risk, management risk, and external risk:

Once you’ve constructed your risk breakdown structure, you’ll be ready to do a deep dive into each risk (to assess and plan for any triggers and outcomes).

Streamline your workflow with business process management software .

5. Plan ahead: create project status reports to communicate progress to stakeholders

As I mentioned earlier, communication is fundamental in any project.

But even so, something that’s often overlooked by project managers is a communication management plan–a plan for how the project team is going to communicate with project stakeholders . Too often, project communication defaults to ad-hoc emails or last-minute meetings.

You can avoid this by planning ahead. Start with a project kickoff meeting and include a project status report template as part of your communication plan.

Here’s an example of a simple project status report that you might send to stakeholders on a weekly basis:

This type of report is invaluable for communicating updates on project progress. It shows what you’ve accomplished in a clear, consistent format, which can help flag issues before they arise, build trust with your stakeholders , and makes it easy to reflect on project performance once you’ve reached your goals.

You might also want to include a broader status report for bigger updates on a monthly or quarterly basis, like this one:

The above template allows you to inform stakeholders of more major updates like new budget requirements, revised completion dates, and project performance ratings.

You can even include visualization of up-to-date project milestones, like this example below:

Want more tips on creating visuals to enhance your communications? Read our visual communication guide for businesses . 

A project management plan is probably the most important deliverable your stakeholders will receive from you (besides the project itself).

It holds all of the information that stakeholders will use to determine whether your project moves forward or gets kicked to the curb.

That’s why it’s a good idea to start with a project management plan template. Using a template can help you organize your information logically and ensure it’s engaging enough to hold your stakeholders’ attention.

Construction project management plan template

Time is money, especially with construction projects. Having a construction plan template brings order to the chaos.

Instead of staring at a messy pile of construction stuff, you’ve got a plan that breaks everything down into bite-sized pieces.

And let’s not forget the paperwork. Construction projects have rules and regulations to follow. Your project plan helps you stay on the right side of the law with all the necessary documentation and compliance measures.

Start with a meticulous project overview, like in the second page of this template:

Though you may think this project will be similar to others you’ve done in the past, it’s important to nail the details.

This will also help you understand the scope of work so you can estimate costs properly and arrive at a quote that’s neither too high or low. Ontario Construction News has great advice on this process.

Simple project management plan template

This simple project management plan template that clearly lays out all of the information your stakeholders will need:

Simple project management communication plan template

A key part of project management is making sure everyone’s in the loop. A project communication plan ensures everyone knows how, where, who and when the team will communicate during the course of the project. Also construction scheduling is a critical aspect of the project management plan as it helps to ensure that all necessary tasks are completed within the allocated time frame and budget.

The key is to figure out what kind of communications is valuable to stakeholders and what is simply overwhelming and won’t lead to better decisions.

This template clearly outlines all of these factors to help manage expectations and eliminate confusion about what will get communicated and when:

Commercial development project plan template

The below project management plan template is simple and minimal, but still uses a unique layout and simple visuals to create an easy-to-read, scannable project overview.

This template is perfect for building or construction management , or any technical projects:

When picking a project plan template, look for one that’s flexible enough to accommodate any changes your stakeholders might request before they’ll approve the project. You never know what might change in the early planning stages of the project! You can also use  project management tools  to help you with your planning!

A well-developed project management plan sets the foundation for a successful project by providing a roadmap that guides the project team toward successful project completion. A good project management plan can ensure that:

• Project objectives and goals are clearly defined and understood
• Project scope is effectively managed
• Resources are allocated efficiently to maximize productivity and minimize waste
• Risks are identified, assessed and mitigated
• Project tasks and activities are well-organized and executed in a timely manner.
• Communication among team members , stakeholders and project sponsors is effective and transparent
• Changes to the project are properly evaluated, approved and implemented
• Lessons learned and best practices are documented for future reference and improvement
• Stakeholders are engaged and satisfied with the project outcomes
• The project is delivered within the specified timeline, budget and quality standards

Before you start assembling your own plan, you should be familiar with the main components of a typical project plan .

A project management plan should include the following sections:

• Executive summary: A short description of the contents of the report
• Project scope & deliverables: An outline of the boundaries of the project, and a description of how the project will be broken down into measurable deliverables
• Project schedule: A high-level view of project tasks and milestones ( Gantt charts are handy for this)
• Project resources: The budget, personnel, and other resources required to meet project goals
• Risk and issue management plan: A list of factors that could derail the project and a plan for how issues will be identified, addressed, and controlled
• Communication management plan: A plan for how team and stakeholder communication will be handled over the course of the project
• Cost and quality management plan: This section encompasses the project’s budget, cost estimation, and cost control mechanisms. It also includes quality assurance testing and control measures as well as any testing or verification activities to be performed.

Basically, a project plan should tell stakeholders what needs to get done, how it will get done, and when it will get done.

That said, one size doesn’t fit all. Every project management plan must be tailored to the specific industry and circumstances of the project. You can use a project management app for smoother project planning.

For example, this marketing plan looks client facing. It is tailored to sell the client on the agency:

Whereas this commercial development plan focuses on specific objectives and a detailed timeline:

With those basics out of the way, let’s get into how to write a project management plan that’s as engaging as it is professional.

Further Reading : If you’re looking to create a proposal, read our in-depth business proposal guide. Then try our job proposal templates or business proposal templates .  

Before diving into creating a project management plan, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the project objectives and the expectations of stakeholders involved.

Without a firm grasp of these fundamental elements, your project may face significant challenges or fail to deliver the desired outcomes.

Here are key points to consider when creating a project management plan:

• Project Objectives: Clearly understand the project objectives and what you want to achieve. Identify the desired outcomes, deliverables and the purpose of the project.
• Scope of the Project: Determine the boundaries and extent of the project. Define what is included and excluded to ensure clarity and prevent scope creep .
• Stakeholders: Identify all stakeholders who will be impacted by or have an interest in the project. Understand their needs, expectations and level of involvement.
• Resources: Assess the resources required to execute the project successfully. This includes human resources, budget, equipment and materials. Determine their availability and allocation.
• Risks and Constraints: Identify potential risks, uncertainties and constraints that may affect the project. Understand the challenges, limitations and potential obstacles that need to be addressed.

Now that you have these key areas identified, let’s get started with creating your project plan.

Before you dive in, remember: a clear and adaptable plan is crucial for project success. Here are some best practices to keep your project plan on track:

• Use headers, columns and highlights to make your executive summary easy to read
• Plot your project schedule with a Gantt chart (with tasks color-coded by department or team member)
• Use visuals like organizational charts and risk breakdown structures to communicate across your team and with stakeholders
• Pick a flexible template that you can update to align with stakeholder requests

Creating a solid project management plan is crucial for setting your project up for success. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Lack of clear goals: Don’t just have a vague idea of what you want to achieve. Define clear, SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) for your project. That way, everyone will be on the same page and it’ll be easier to measure progress effectively.
• Unrealistic timelines: Be optimistic, but also realistic. Don’t underestimate the time required for tasks. Factor in potential delays and buffer time when creating your project schedule.
• Scope creep: New requirements mid-project can affect deadlines and budgets. Plan the project clearly upfront, and take into consideration any changes that might come up.
• Poor communication: Communication is key throughout the project lifecycle. Regularly update stakeholders, team members and clients on progress, roadblocks and changes.
• Ignoring risks: Things don’t always go according to plan. Identify potential risks upfront and have a mitigation strategy in place for each one.
• Not involving stakeholders: Get key stakeholders involved early on. This helps manage everyone’s expectations and that you have the buy-in you need for success.
• Neglecting resource constraints: Don’t overload your team or underestimate the resources needed. Carefully consider the skills, time and budget available when planning your project.
• Micromanaging: Trust your team! Delegate tasks effectively and give them the autonomy they need to do their jobs.
• Failing to document: Keep good records. Document project decisions, plans and communication. This helps maintain transparency and ensures everyone has access to the latest information.
• Not adapting to change: Be prepared to adapt your plan as needed. Projects are rarely static, so be flexible and willing to adjust your approach based on new information or developments.

So, that’s the scoop on project management plans! I hope this piece will help you to avoid confusion, keep expectations in check and be ready to tackle any bumps for your upcoming projects.

If you ever need a revision, just follow the steps we talked about, use those best practices and you’ll have a plan that sets your project up for a win. Just remember, even the best plans need some tweaking sometimes. Be flexible and adjust as needed and you’re good to go!

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Top 5 Project Management Methodologies

What’s the best way to manage a project? Like with most things, the answer is: it depends as each project has requirements. This is where knowledge of project management methodologies comes in hand as it can help project managers figure out the best approach.

To this end, we put together an article about the most popular project management methodologies. But first…What’s a project management methodology?

What’s a project management methodology?

Briefly, a project management methodology is a systematic approach to designing, executing and delivering a project. Project management methodology is a clearly defined combination of related practices, methods, and processes which determine how to best manage workload . It is a model for planning and achieving task goals.

Project management methodologies guide the team through all the phases of a project, with guidance on processes and tasks. These start with help in planning, initiation and implementation, all the way to closure. By providing clear guidance with in-depth descriptions for every step, project management methodologies help teams reduce risks and avoid failure.

Top 5 project management methodologies

While there are over 17 project management methodologies, the ones listed below are the most popular.

Waterfall project management

The waterfall project management methodology is a sequential process. According to it, progress is seen as result flowing from previous steps. This project management methodology was first outlined in the 1950s. Still, the first use of the official “waterfall” name wasn’t until 1976 in a paper written by Bell and Thayer.

The initial waterfall model has 6 main stages:

• Outlining and documenting requirements
• Design & conception
• Development
• Testing/Quality assurance
• Maintenance

As soon as each step is completed, reviewed and verified, project managers can move forward to the next step. Since waterfall implies a sequence of steps, you cannot go back to a previous step without starting all over from the beginning. This leaves little room for change, so outcomes and a very detailed plan need to be established early on then followed closely.

One of the strong points in waterfall project management methodology is that is stresses rigorous documentation – for example requirements or design document, along with source code. This way, project knowledge can be easily passed on to new team members – in case anyone leaves the project before completion.

Also, because it moves forward in a linear way, projects planned using waterfall are easy to understand and its phases are pretty much self-explanatory. It’s also easy to identify project milestones as moving forward always implies completing a step.

On the downside, in waterfall, you cannot go back to an earlier step to make changes. Also, if the initial requirements are faulty, the result is pretty much doomed, too. Additionally, waterfall leaves little room for changing or evolving needs. If client needs and demands change, projects will take longer and more money to complete. Also, testing or quality assurance take place only further down the line, which makes it harder to detect bugs and predict their overall impact.

Waterfall project management is recommended for projects with fixed scope and requirements or for fixed and stable projects with little change. Also, once the requirements are established, projects that run on waterfall don’t need extensive client presence.

Agile project management

Agile project management came about as a response to rapidly changing demands in software development. Since waterfall doesn’t do a good job accommodating changes, agile stepped in to address these constantly changing needs.

Compared to waterfall, which is linear, agile project management takes an iterative approach to managing tasks and processes. It stems from Toyota’s lean manufacturing approach in the 1940s. Agile focuses on ongoing improvement through continuous releases. Also, it incorporates feedback from previous versions in every new iteration. Speed, team input and delivering high-quality work are all key characteristics of agile project management .

Agile project management grew on software developers quickly as it helps reduce waste and it increases transparency. Also, with continuous releases, agile pushes teams to collaborate and to innovate faster.

Agile project management is based on four core values:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

Besides the 4 core values, Agile also uses a list of 12 principles on matters of collaboration and self-organization. All these are covered in the Agile manifesto .

Agile has won praise because it allows for faster development while reducing waste of resources. Also, it has increased flexibility and is more adaptive to change, making it easier to focus efforts on a specific goal. Agile also allows for quick detection of issues and potential bugs, thus optimizing the development process. It also allows for increased collaboration and feedback and it puts customer needs at the forefront.

Scrum project management

There is a lot of confusion between Scrum and Agile. While Agile refers to a set of methods and principles, Scrum is a framework used to implement Agile methodology

In Scrum, teams work in iterative cycles called sprints. The product owner, the person in charge of creating the product outlines the product vision statement, product roadmap and the project backlog. Along with the development team, the product owner plans what will be delivered at the end of each sprint.

Once a new sprint begins, teams hold short, daily meetings. Here, each tells about what they’re working on and if they have encountered challenges. At the end of each sprint, there is a sprint review that demos the completed work. Next are sprint retrospectives where the team evaluates their way of working and discusses potential problems.

In Scrum, progress needs to be transparent and easily measurable. To this end, teams use six documents to outline requirements and track progress. These are:

• Project vision statement: a document that outlines the main goals of the project
• Project roadmap : a high-level overview or project requirements , along with a timeframe and milestones for delivery.
• Project backlog: this is a list of all the tasks that need to be completed, ordered by priority.
• Release plan: A high-level timeline for releases
• Sprint backlog: A list of goals and task associated with the current sprints.

Implementing Scrum can be easily done with spreadsheets or post-its. That can work well for small teams that share a location. For remote or distributed teams, project managers need proper tools to make ensure transparency. Project planning and roadmap tools such as Toggl Plan allow project managers to run projects in Scrum effectively.

PRINCE2 project management

PRINCE2 stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments. It is a process-based method for managing projects. Initially used by the UK government, the first framework for PRINCE was developed in the 1980s. After its approach was reviewed and updated in 1996, PRINCE2 became popular across a variety of industries, both in the UK and internationally.

As a project management methodology, PRINCE2 has 5 key features:

• Focus on business justification
• Defined organisation structure for the project management team
• Product-based planning approach
• Emphasis on dividing the project into manageable and controllable stages
• Flexibility that can be applied at a level appropriate to the project.

Since it is a process-based approach, PRINCE2 is governed by principles that control the entire process from start to finish. These make sure that each stage is clearly structured and that there are no loose ends when completing a project. The 6 rules of PRINCE2 are:

• All processes must have a clear business justification. They need to serve a clear need, a realistic customer and defined benefits.
• Project teams should learn at every stage. Every step provides lessons that are recorded and that can be used to improve in the future.
• Clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Every team member should know what they and their mates are responsible for.
• Planning is done in stages. Tasks are splitted into individual phases, with specific milestones and checkups to confirm that everything is on track and according to requirements.
• Project boards manage by exception. Generally, once the requirements are set, project managers have the authority to manage a project without additional input from senior management. However, if issues come up, they can be considered an exception and involve senior management.
• Teams need to constantly keep an eye on quality, checking against requirements

In PRINCE2 there are also 7 stages: starting up, directing, initiating a project, controlling a stage, managing project delivery, managing stage boundaries and closing the project. Additionally, there are 5 roles: the customer, the user (can sometimes be the same as the customer), the supplier, the project manager, the team manager and the administrator.

Compared to previous project management methodologies, PRINCE2 requires experience in order to be implemented. What’s more, there are also available courses that allow project managers to get certification with this methodology.

Kanban project management

Kanban project management was conceived by a Toyota engineer back in 1953. Compared to other project management methodologies, it focuses more on visualizing the workflow in order to balance demand and spot potential bottlenecks.

In Kanban, work is divided into specific stages and steps. Each team member does his/her work then passes the task forward for the next stage to be completed. Kanban is somehow similar to a factory floor where a piece of metal goes through a series of steps to be turned into a finished part.

Kanban requires project managers to define each stage of the workflow. Also, project managers need a system to get a task from one stage to the other. While this sounds easier for physical goods, for knowledge work is can be something like cards – virtual or real. As work on the task progresses, the card is moved to different lists.

Kanban focuses on managing output and efficiency. By doing one thing at a time, it allows project managers to estimate better the workload a specific team member can deliver. Additionally, Kanban is pretty flexible, with only four guiding principles:

• Cards (Kanban translates to “visual card”): Each task has a card with all the relevant information needed to complete the tas
• Cap on work in progress: To avoid burnout, project managers need to limit how many cards are in play at once
• Continuous Flow: Prioritize according to importance and make sure there always is a workload
• Constant improvement: Analyze the flow to determine efficiency and what can be improved

Compared to other project management methodologies, Kanban is a bit more laid back. With no sprints, assigned roles or specific milestones, team members can focus freely on the task at hand. Also, meetings are defined according to team needs, instead of regular process meetings.

Like Scrum, Kanban is great for teams that don’t need a lot of management and are self-motivated. It can also help project managers focus on efficiency, thus saving resources. If project managers are careful not to overload, projects can be completed in time and within budget. However, Kanban works best where skills are evenly distributed, sometimes overlapping in a team. If one team member has a specific in-demand skill, that can hold up the project.

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The definitive guide to project management methodologies.

• Types of project management methodologies
• How to pick the right methodology

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Originally published July 14, 2019. Updated with current & new info on April 25, 2022.

What are project management methodologies? A project management methodology is essentially a set of guiding principles and processes for managing a project. Your choice of methodology defines how you work and communicate.

So, how do you choose a project management methodology?

What methodology you choose will depend on your team, project type, and project scope . Choosing project management methodologies (PMM) is one of the first decisions you’ll have to make as a project manager.

What methodology you pick will have a profound and ongoing impact on how you and your teamwork. Different project management methodologies have their own pros and cons for different project types. Some are geared for speed, and some for comprehensiveness. 

In this article, we’ll give you a complete overview of different PMMs and how to choose them.

Types of Project Management Methodologies

On paper, PM methodologies are tool agnostic, i.e. you should be able to use any methodology regardless of what PM tool you use.

In reality, most project management tools are specialized to use a handful of methodologies. This will be a factor in what methodology you eventually choose to use.

The question now is: What are the different types of project management methodologies? What are their advantages and disadvantages? What kind of projects are they best suited for?

Below, we’ll take a look at and explore 13 of the most popular project management methodologies.

1. waterfall methodology

What is the waterfall methodology.

The Waterfall methodology is the oldest methodology on this list. It was first outlined by Dr. Winston Royce in 1970 as a response to managing the increasingly complex nature of software development. Since then, it has become widely adopted, most prominently in the software industry.

The Waterfall methodology is sequential. It is also heavily requirements-focused. You need to have a crystal clear idea of what the project demands before proceeding further. There is no scope for a correction once the project is underway.

The Waterfall method is divided into discrete stages. You start by collecting and analyzing requirements, designing the solution (and your approach), implementing the solution, and fixing issues if any.

Each stage in this process is self-contained; you wrap up one stage before moving on to another.

Graphically, you can represent it as follows:

The above is from a software development perspective. Individual stages would be different for creative project management, but the approach remains the same.

Advantages of the Waterfall methodology

As Mike Wang, our Director of Training and Support, mentioned earlier :

“One of the driving factors behind waterfall management is that by investing time in the early stages of a project, managers ensure design needs and other requirements have been met—thus saving the time and effort generally associated with retroactively correcting problems”

Thus, the Waterfall method has several advantages, such as:

Ease of use:

Documentation:, disadvantages of the waterfall methodology, higher risk:, front-heavy:.

The Waterfall methodology is most commonly used in software development. It works best for the following project types:

• Short, simple projects
• Projects with clear and fixed requirements
• Projects with changing resources that depend on in-depth documentation
• For further reading on Waterfall methodology, see this post. 

2. Agile methodology

What is the agile methodology.

Agile , another software development-focused PM methodology, emerged as a response to the failure of the Waterfall method for managing complex projects. Although Agile PM ideas had been in use in the software industry for quite a while, it formally came into being in 2001 when several IT representatives released the " Agile Manifesto "

Graphically, it can be represented as follows:

Advantages of the Agile methodology

Flexibility and freedom:, lower risk:, disadvantages of the agile methodology, no fixed plan:, collaboration-heavy:.

The flexibility of the Agile approach means that you can adapt it to different types of projects.

That said, this methodology works best for:

• When you don't have a fixed end in mind but have a general idea of a product.
• When the project needs to accommodate quick changes.
• If collaboration and communication are your key strengths (and planning isn't)

3. Hybrid methodology

The Hybrid methodology focuses on gathering and analyzing requirements initially - a nod to the Waterfall method. From thereon, it takes the flexibility of the Agile approach with an emphasis on rapid iterations.

By combining attributes of Waterfall and Agile, the Hybrid method (sometimes called "Structured Agile") gives you the best of both worlds.

Advantages of the Hybrid Methodology

Increased flexibility:, more structured:, disadvantages of the hybrid methodology, requires compromise:, the "best of both worlds".

The Hybrid approach is best suited for projects that have middling requirements when compared to Agile and Waterfall, i.e. they require structure as well as flexibility.

Mostly, these would be medium-sized projects with moderately high complexity but fixed budgets. You would likely have an idea of the end product but you are also open to experimentation. You will need close collaboration, especially past the planning stage.

4. lean project management

Lean project management focuses on maximizing efficiency by minimizing waste. It is inspired by the 1980s Lean manufacturing philosophy which holds that waste (the expenditure of resources on anything other than the creation of value for the end customer) should be eliminated.

LPM groups tasks into three types:

Value-Added: Tasks that advance the completion of the project and generate value for the customer (e.g., adding a roof to a hotel).

Enabler: Tasks that the customer isn’t paying for, but which are necessary for the project to be completed (e.g., project planning or quality testing).

Waste: Tasks that are unnecessary and which do not add value by advancing the completion of a deliverable (e.g., a team member attending a meeting at which they are not required).

Applying Lean principles to project management boils down to reducing the time required to complete projects. This is because the longer a project takes, the more money it will cost. Plus, missing the project deadline can cause a loss of benefits and attract financial penalties. 

By eliminating wasteful activities so that more time can be spent on value-added tasks, LPM reduces the amount of time it takes to complete the project. 

Advantages :

• Faster project completion times: Realizing the project earlier means that the customer will receive more value at a lower cost. 
• Boost in quality : Attention is paid to details with the goal of minimizing mistakes and the need to make amendments. Processes become optimized and the quality of the work improves.  
• An improvement culture: Project Managers practicing PLM are always communicating with their team about ways to cut waste and work smarter. Teams feel empowered and open to making and suggesting improvements.

Disadvantages :

• Inventory could be at risk: To decrease carrying costs, lean companies keep stock amounts low, leaving them vulnerable to supply chain issues. 
• Expensive start-up: Updating legacy systems and introducing more efficient equipment, software and processes can be expensive and time-consuming.
• Requires culture change : Teams may be resistant to training and unwilling to adopt lean practices.   

LPM is best for engaging team members and reducing staff turnover as everyone is encouraged to take the initiative and make continuous improvements. Using this method can give an organization a competitive advantage as it drives up quality and profits. 

5. Scrum Project Management

Scrum isn't a fully-featured project management methodology. Rather, it describes an approach to Agile management with a focus on project teams, short "sprints" and daily stand-up meetings.

While it borrows the principles and processes from Agile, Scrum has its own specific methods and tactics for dealing with project management. As Mike put it earlier:

"Agile is the philosophy, and Scrum the methodology. While scrum is agile, agile isn’t scrum." 

The Scrum approach places the project team front and center of the project. Often, there is no project manager. Instead, the team is expected to be self-organizing and self-managing. This makes it ideal for highly focused and skilled teams, but not so much for others.

• Scrum "sprints" : The Scrum approach is heavily focused on 30-day "sprints". This is where the project team breaks down a wishlist of end goals into small chunks, then works on them in 30-day sessions with daily stand-up meetings. This makes it easy to manage large and complex projects.
• Fast-paced: The "sprint" approach with its 30-day limit and daily stand-up meetings promotes rapid iteration and development.
• Team-focused: Since the project team is expected to manage itself, Scrum teams have clear visibility into the project. It also means that project leaders can set their own priorities as per their own knowledge of their capabilities.

Besides these, it has all the benefits of Agile - rapid iteration and regular stakeholder feedback.

Disadvantages

• Scope creep : Since there is no fixed end date, nor a project manager for scheduling and budgeting, Scrum can easily lead to scope creep.
• Higher risk: Since the project team is self-managing, there is a higher risk of failure unless the team is highly disciplined and motivated. If the team doesn't have enough experience, Scrum has a very high chance of failure.
• Lack of flexibility: The project-team focus means that any resource leaving the team in-between will hugely impact the net results. This approach is also not flexible enough for large teams.

The Scrum approach is best for highly experienced, disciplined, and motivated project teams who can set their own priorities and understand project requirements clearly. It has all the flaws of Agile along with all its benefits. It works for large projects but fails if the project team itself is very large.

In short: use Scrum if you're developing complex software and have an experienced team at your disposal.

6. Kanban Project Management

Kanban is a visual agile project management framework developed by Japanese auto giant Toyota in the 1950s. At its core is a physical or digital Kanban (signboard), divided into three columns representing three stages of completion:

•     Work that hasn’t begun (backlog)
•     Work in progress (WIP)
•     Work that has been completed

Project tasks, listed on real or virtual Kanban cards, are added to the board and moved from one column to the next as their status changes. The more urgent a task is, the higher its position will be in the first and second columns.  

• Maintains a smooth flow of production: By limiting the number of tasks in progress at any one time, Kanban protects the project team from becoming overburdened by work. This approach can maximize efficiency and speed up delivery times. 
• Visible and transparent workflow: Kanban shows the status of each task and the overall progress of the project in a way that is immediately intuitive to most people.  
• Not designed for a dynamic environment: Kanban assumes that a project will be executed according to a pre-arranged plan. This makes Kanban unsuitable for creative agencies where changes can be transformative rather than evolutionary. 
• Lack of timeline: In Kanban, no timeframes are associated with each work stage. This makes it difficult to schedule deliveries and estimate things like project costs.

Best for:  

Kanban is best for teams who want to visualize a project from start to finish. This method will help you avoid workflow bottlenecks and prevent too many tasks from being in progress at the same time, which can overwhelm teams and cause morale to plummet.

7. Scrumban Project Management

Despite its name, Scrumban isn’t simply an amalgamation of the Scrum and Kanban project management methods. Though it was created with the intention of helping teams transition from Scrum to a flow method such as Kanban, today Scrumban exists as a standalone agile method based on Lean.

Like Scrum, Scrumban involves planning out chunks of work (sprints). These iterations must be completed within a set timeframe (typically two weeks). 

Deploying the same visual methodology and task-focused work organization as Kanban, tasks are represented as cards that move through different stages across a board. 

Instead of tasks being assigned, team members choose what they want to work on. Scrumban places a hard limit on how many tasks can be in progress simultaneously. 

• Good for large-scale or long-term projects : Scrumban simplifies complex projects by splitting them into smaller, manageable pieces. As an iterative Agile method, it allows small changes to be made over large stretches of time, making it a great framework for long-term projects.
• Prevents overwhelming workload: With Scrumban, the project is broken up into smaller tasks and teams focus only on what they have the capacity to complete. This helps to reduce the risk of scope creep.

Disadvantages:

Lack of management :.

Scrumban has no team hierarchy and no clear group leader. While this gives every person on the team the same opportunity to make decisions, it can cause confusion.

Troublesome tracking:

Best for: 

Scrumban is best for teams who need structure and flexibility. By limiting WIP, it cuts down on multi-tasking, helping teams to maintain productivity. Scrumban projects don’t necessarily need to have a deadline which makes this method a good choice for very long-term projects or projects with an ambiguous goal. 

8. Critical Path Method (CPM)

The above four project management methodologies emerged from software development. While you can certainly use them for non-software projects, there are better alternatives at your disposal.

One of the more popular alternatives is the Critical Path Method (CPM).

In the Critical Path Method, you categorize all activities needed to complete the project within a work breakdown structure . Then you map the projected duration of each activity and the dependencies between them.

This helps you map out activities that can be completed simultaneously, and what activities should be completed before others can start.

Better scheduling:

Prioritization:, scheduling requires experience:, no flexibility:.

The Critical Path Method is best suited for projects with interdependent parts. If you require tasks to be completed simultaneously, or for one task to end before another can begin, you'll want to use this methodology.

CPM finds a lot of application in complex, but repetitive activities such as industrial projects. It is less suited for a dynamic area such as creative project management.

9. Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM)

Critical Chain PM is one of the newer project management methodologies out there. It was developed as an alternative to the Critical Path method with a focus on resource management.

With CCPM, you work backward from the end goal. You recognize the deliverables, then use past experience to map out the tasks required to complete the project. You also map out the interdependencies between resources and allocate them accordingly to each task.

This graph from TrackerSuite shows the difference between a traditional vs. a CCPM project schedule.

CCPM emphasizes resource utilization and minimizing lost productivity. It is heavily reliant on "monotasking", i.e. focusing on the task at hand and avoiding multitasking.

For resource-strapped project teams, CCPM can be a powerful methodology.

Resource-efficient:

Focused on the end goal:, not appropriate for multi-project environments:, delays common:.

CCPM works best in environments where resources are devoted to a single project. If you have a dedicated team for a project, it works great. If your team is spread across several projects, you'll struggle with resource planning.

The resource-focused approach of CCPM is also ideal for resource-strapped project teams. If you find yourself constantly overworked or missing deadlines, the CCPM methodology might be for you.

10. Integrated Project Management (IPM)

Integrated Project Management (IPM) - sometimes also called "Integrated Project Delivery" - is a common project management methodology in creative industries. This methodology emphasizes the sharing and standardization of processes across the organization. 

The IPM approach came about as a response to the increasingly integrated nature of creative campaigns. You don't just produce a single ad; you integrate the ad with microsites, digital content, etc.  Most creative projects are a piece of a larger campaign. 

An integrated project has the following components:

By integrating processes across the organization, IPM gives project managers better insight into the project and access to the right resources.

This makes IPM particularly appropriate for creative agencies.

Transparency:

Accountability:.

Requires extensive planning: With the IPM approach, you will have to plan extensively upfront and ensure that all processes are well-integrated. This increases your burden significantly and can lead to delays.

Large agencies with diverse teams and processes benefit the most from Integrated Project Management. It works best for complex creative projects where you need resources from multiple teams and departments to interface with each other.

PRiSM (Projects Integration Sustainable Methods) is a project management methodology developed by Green Project Management (GPM) Global.

As hinted by the creator's name, the PRiSM approach focuses on accounting for and minimizing adverse environmental impacts of the project. It is different from traditional methodologies in that it extends beyond the end of the project. Instead, it factors in the entire lifecycle of the project post-delivery to maximize sustainability.

Here's an overview of how activities are organized in PRiSM :

The PRiSM approach is very pertinent for modern projects where environmental costs and sustainability are key success criteria. For large projects where reducing energy consumption, managing waste, and minimizing environmental impact is critical, PRiSM offers a viable project management ideology.

PRiSM is unsuitable for projects where environmental impact is not a concern (such as software or creative projects).

Success with the PRiSM approach also requires every part of the project team - including outside contractors and stakeholders - to be on board with the sustainability principle - a hard ask in most organizations.

PRiSM is mostly suited for large and complex real estate and industrial projects where sustainability is a key concern.

12. PRINCE2

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is the official project management methodology of the UK government (which means that most UK government projects use it). You can even get a PRINCE2 certification to make working as a project manager in the UK easier.

PRINCE2 is based on 7 principles, 7 themes and 7 processes. The 7 PRINCE2 principles, for instance, are:

• Continued business justification
• Learn from experience
• Defined roles and responsibilities
• Manage by stages
• Manage by Exception
• Focus on products
• Tailor to suit the project environment

Wikipedia has a great introductory article on this methodology. I suggest you start there if you're interested in PRINCE2.

Running a PRINCE2 project requires extensive documentation. Additionally, one of the guiding principles of PRINCE2 is to "Learn from experience". This focus on documentation and past experience can help reduce risk.

The disadvantage of PRINCE2's extensive documentation is that changes can be hard to accommodate. If the requirements change, you have to redo the documentation and re-allocate resources, which can hamper the project pace.

This methodology is best suited for large and complex projects with fixed requirements. If you're in the UK, you'll likely want to know the PRINCE2 methodology. It is widely used in the country and is a requirement for government projects.

13. What is Six Sigma Project Management? 

Developed in the 1980s by Motorola, Six Sigma is a data-driven quality-control management method focused on understanding customers’ requirements and eliminating waste and defects (anything that doesn’t meet customers’ expectations).

Statistical analysis is used to identify problems and determine their cause, and processes are improved through decisions based on data.   

This quality management process is monitored by a team with Six Sigma expertise. Inspired by martial arts, Six Sigma uses belts to designate different levels of methodological mastery. 

Within Six Sigma are two five-step methodologies: DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) which focuses on incrementally improving existing processes, and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify) which focuses on optimizing new products or processes to Six Sigma standards.

Advantages:

Proactive approach:, informed decision-making:, increased efficiency:, data deluge:, training requirements : companies must find certified six sigma institutes to train all their employees or conduct in-house training without formal certification., no framework:.

While Six Sigma can be a useful tool for small to medium-sized businesses seeking to reduce waste, it brings the greatest benefit to large-scale companies that continuously produce the same products or deliver the same services.

There are several other PMMs besides these, such as Crystal , Feature Driven Development (FDD), Dynamic Systems Development (DSDM), and Rational Unified Process (RUP).

For the most part, however, you’ll choose from one of the methodologies described above.

choosing the Right Methodology

From the above section, it is clear that different PM methodologies are better suited for different projects. You wouldn’t want to use PRiSM for a software project, just as you wouldn’t want to use Agile for big real-estate development.

When you’re picking PM methodologies, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Evaluate the Project

Focus on gathering initial requirements. If the requirements suggest that you need a large and diverse team, pick a methodology that supports flexibility.

Similarly, if you have a clear idea of the end result, pick a more structured methodology such as Waterfall. If the end result is vague (common in the case of in-house projects), pick an iterative methodology like Agile.

Some other things to consider when evaluating the project are:

• Project budget
• Size and complexity
• Stakeholder expectations
• Project type and industry

2. Evaluate Your Team

Your project management methodology is essentially a blueprint for the project. It tells your team what to create and when to create it.

For this to happen, however, your team should be able to read the blueprint itself.

In other words, if your team isn't familiar with the project management methodology of your choice, you will struggle to get results. You will have to devote time to learning the methodology (which some of your team members might be resistant to), leading to delays.

Here are a few things to consider when evaluating your team:

• Team experience
• Self-organization capabilities
• Team preparedness
• Team location (remote, on-site, etc.)

Essentially, pick a methodology that fits your team, instead of forcing your team to fit the methodology.

3. Evaluate Your Organization

How your company is organized, its culture, and its past records will have a big impact on your choice of project management methodology. Some methodologies only work with large organizations with established hierarchies. Others are more suitable for smaller, leaner outfits.

For instance, if your past records show that all your Agile projects have been delayed AND poorly received, it's a good idea to avoid this methodology in the future.

A few things you should consider when evaluating your organization are:

• Past records and experience with different methodologies
• Organization hierarchy
• Level of flexibility
• Organization maturity level
• Organization size
• Available resources, including external resources such as freelancers and contractors.
• Your industry

4. Evaluate Your Stakeholders

When choosing a PM methodology, factor in:

• Stakeholder involvement: Some methodologies demand that stakeholders be regularly involved at every stage of the project. With Agile, for instance, you need stakeholders to be regularly available for feedback. If the stakeholders are busy, pick a methodology that requires lower stakeholder involvement.
• Stakeholder requirements: How do your stakeholders work? What do they require from the project manager? If the stakeholders are known to change project scope frequently, pick a more flexible methodology. Similarly, if the stakeholders require daily updates, pick a methodology that can accommodate this demand.

Given the importance of stakeholders in the project’s success, keeping their requirements in mind will make for happier stakeholders and more successful projects.

5. Evaluate Your Tools

Project management tools are seldom methodology-agnostic. They are usually designed to work well with a specific methodology.

Hence, the software tools you have existing access to and expertise in will impact your choice.

To do this:

• Make a list of all software tools you currently use
• List their limitations and capabilities
• Compare their capabilities against the requirements for a specific PM methodology.

Ideally, the methodology you choose should work with your existing toolset. If you have to buy new tools, you will not only have to spend more but will also lose critical time in retraining your team.

Doing this in-depth evaluation will help you choose a methodology that aligns with your goals, your team’s capabilities, and your stakeholder’s requirements perfectly.

As a project manager, you have several project management methodologies to choose from. Each of these methodologies has its own strengths and weaknesses. Picking the right one will make running your project faster, smoother, and more efficient.

Pick from one of the several methodologies listed above. Then evaluate your project, team, organization, stakeholders, and existing tools to pick a methodology that aligns with your strengths and requirements.

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The 9 stages of a successful project planning process

Table of contents

The project planning process is essential to laying the groundwork for a successful project.

But planning a project is not linear. The project manager might need to change things on the fly to adjust plans to reality. For example, you could need to adjust the project timeline after planning your resources to avoid burning out your employees.  As a result, the project planning processes can quickly become complicated!  

In this guide, we’ll share a structured approach to project management planning that will help you plan your future projects better.

[fs-toc-omit]What are the stages in project planning?

There are nine essential stages in the project planning process that should be adhered to. Follow these steps to create your project plan:

1. Determine the project goals and objectives

The first step in the project planning phase is to define the goals and objectives of your project.

Project goals and objectives help you decide if the project should be prioritized (or even undertaken—essentially you need to use a proof of concept ). They also assist you in deciding what to deliver to the client and in identifying problems early on, e.g., a short deadline.

Your project goals provide a broad idea of what you’re trying to accomplish and help dictate the direction of your project.

Your project objectives are similar to your goals, but they define the project in more specific terms like cost, time, and quality. Once you have your project objectives, it's easy to determine the deliverables .

To set your project goals and objectives, refer to the information gathered in the project initiation stage . For example, the project brief or project proposal state that the client needs an e-commerce store to handle the volume of orders on their social media pages. Their goal, in that case, is to launch an e-commerce website. Their objectives might be to launch a fast and user-friendly e-commerce website by the end of Q4 at a cost of $20,000.

If you're wondering where to start, take a look at our project planning templates or the more specific project charter templates that will help you save time and effort.

2. Determine the project scope

Stakeholders often request extra tasks or significant changes in direction (sometimes several of them) during a project that could derail it.

Your project scope protects you from unrealistic expectations, conflicting interests, and unattainable demands as the project progresses.  

To determine your scope, look at your project goals and objectives. What do you need to do to achieve them? What isn’t necessary? For example, the scope of a new housing project may be limited to erecting and finishing the building but might not include landscaping or the construction of an outdoor pool. And it certainly does not include switching the design to a skyscraper!

It’s normal to feel uncertain about all the details. Stephen Whitworth, co-founder of incident.io, recommends being flexible in your approach. “You can scope with different levels of detail in your scope. It’s helpful to start vague, get early feedback, and then go precise.”

Using a scope document or a scope statement ensures you can refer back to it if the need arises (this can be achieved in several ways).

3. Build your work breakdown structure (WBS)

At this stage, start determining which tasks, subtasks, and deliverables must be carried out to complete the project. You can do this by referring to your scope and creating a work breakdown structure—a structured decomposition of tasks needed to complete a project. A WBS is often accompanied by a resource breakdown structure (RBS) , where both represent what activities the project team needs to complete and what resources are necessary for each work package.

In his book Project Management for Humans , Brett Harned emphasizes the importance of work breakdown structure:  "Creating a work breakdown structure for any plan or set of tasks helps you get granular about the work that needs to be done on any given project."

You can create a written work breakdown structure by:

• Breaking down your project using a Kanban board like Trello
• Mapping out tasks and timelines using Gantt charts in a project management tool like Asana

Start by taking the project itself and breaking it down into large chunks or workstreams. For example, your initial workstreams for an e-commerce website would be setting up the site infrastructure and authentication, creating the cart system, and connecting the payment gateway.

You can go further by breaking your workstreams into smaller deliverables (don’t forget to add managerial tasks at each level!). For the e-commerce website, tasks like buying a domain name, instituting website hosting, and load balancing all fall under setting up the site infrastructure.

<tip>

If you’re using a project management tool like Asana or Trello to create your WBS, you can integrate with Float to easily allocate tasks based on your team’s skills, availability, and capacity.

<tip-button> Find out more </tip-button>

</tip>

4. Set timelines  

Now that you have individual tasks created, you can set timelines for each activity.

Project timelines help you estimate the completion date and keep things on track. Timelines are usually plotted on a Gantt chart or in a resource management tool like Float .

You can set timelines by comparing the duration of tasks in similar projects or asking your team how long specific tasks take them.  

Remember to add a buffer period for unplanned events like switching hosting providers or delays in getting approval from building control inspectors. "If there's a project I can get done in a week, I'll estimate two and half weeks for it. In case of unforeseen circumstances, I'd like to overestimate so I'll have more time," says David Ibia, CEO of BoxMarshall LLC .

Here are some other things to keep in mind when creating timelines:

• Set milestones for project phases : An example of a milestone could be that 2 months from the start date, the engineers will have completed their work on the backend of the e-commerce site .
• Be conscious of time constraints : Your timeline might have to fit the deadline given by clients. In this case, you may need to follow the critical path.

Learn more about project timelines in our brief guide to project scheduling.

5. Determine and plan resources

For a project to succeed, you need the right people and resources.

The resource planning process in project management involves a lot of project assumptions and making estimates . But from the past steps—especially your WBS, scope, and goals—you should have a rough idea of what resources you need.

For example, if you’re building an e-commerce website, you’ll need a developer, a designer, and a copywriter.  You’ll also need to purchase hosting and a domain name for the website. If they are a co-located team, you should provide a meeting room for collaboration.

For a new house construction project, you’ll need masons, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and materials like sand, rocks, wood, pipes, and wires.

When planning your resources, ensure you:

• Determine the skills/criteria you need
• Confirm future availability of resources
• Identify costs of resources, e.g., hourly rates
• Find out about special requirements, e.g., do you need to find a contractor who is licensed through a guild?

You’ll want to make sure that you have the people with the right skills and capacity to make the project a success. Also, ensure your plan shows clear ownership of tasks. One easy way is to use your WBS to create an organizational structure.

6. Estimate costs

One of the challenges in the project planning process is balancing your budget with your stakeholders' desire to save money.

However, if you underestimate costs, you might find yourself without funds in the middle of the project. To approximate the cost of the project , you can use:

• Ballpark estimation: What do you think the entire project will cost based on project objectives and client expectations? This is not an exact figure. It could cost less or more, so let your clients know. Use this method when you need to give a cost estimate before determining things like your WBS or resources.
• Parametric estimation: Use historical data in your resource management tool and the cost of variables to estimate costs. Turn your WBS into a cost breakdown structure. You can take the prices of a unit of labor, such as a mason working at $23 an hour, and multiply it by the amount of time the project will take.  

Choose your method and establish an initial cost baseline . Make sure to include details about the contact person and processes for releasing the funds. For example, the team lead could approve spending for limited amounts, while larger amounts must be approved by the finance department.

A convenient way to manage project budgets

Easily manage project budgets with Float by selecting hourly or dollar-value options, tracking billable or non-billable tasks, and monitoring real-time progress through reports. Simplify your budgeting process and stay on target with Float!

7. Determine risks and constraints

No project exists without risks or constraints. The key to avoiding a project failure is identifying the potential pitfalls and creating an action plan to handle them.  

One way to properly prepare is to create a risk register—a document that lists all of the potential risks and information about them. Also, include an action plan to counter each project risk in your risk register .

8. Plan out communication

Creating a communication blueprint is essential in developing a project plan. "No matter what role you’re playing on a project, if you’re not making a strong effort to communicate with your team, you will likely fail," says Harned.

Be sure to include details about the following:

• Communication channels: This may be via email for clients, while team members might communicate primarily over Slack.
• Frequency: This may be weekly,  on-demand asynchronously, or per milestone.
• Communication type/details: Execs typically need fewer details and more high-level information, while team members who are actively working on the project need more granular information.
• Contact persons: Define who you go to and with what type of information to avoid delays.

Did you know?

Float centralizes your people and projects, so everyone can always see who’s working on what and when. Automate notifications via Slack, email, and mobile to let the team know when plans change.

<tip-button> Learn more </tip-button>

9. Make plans for quality control and assurance

Planning for project quality control involves providing guidelines for managing, assuring, and maintaining standards within the project.

Without a plan, it will be very tough to achieve your desired results. You might end up with a slow e-commerce website or a leaky plumbing system!

To set quality control metrics, you should:

• Leverage in-house experts' knowledge of best practices
• Reference industry standards—for example,  e-commerce sites need to have a secure and fast payment system
• Work with key stakeholders to determine expectations of quality

Your plan should also include acceptance criteria, define the people in charge of verifying work, and set any corrective actions.

[fs-toc-omit]What are the components of a project plan?

The elements will vary from project to project, but here are some essential components every successful project plan should have:

• Scope: Define the boundaries of your project. What will be included and excluded in the entire project?
• Deliverables: Define what products/deliverables need to be submitted at the end of the project.
• Budget: Define how much the project will cost. One easy way is to use your WBS to create a cost breakdown structure by assigning costs to each task.
• Quality: Define how quality will be assured and controlled on the project.  
• Schedule: Assign time to each project activity and people to tasks.  
• Resourcing: Define what human and material resources will be needed to complete the project.
• Stakeholder management/communication: How will you communicate with your stakeholders and keep them in the loop? Define which stakeholder will be given what information at what times.    
• Governance: To keep your project transparent and compliant, define which team members are responsible for project monitoring and decision-making.
• Risk: Enter all risks in a risk register. Also, include details about each risk and plans to combat them.

Learn about the factors to successful project planning .

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Why is project planning software important?

Planning a project involves a lot of guesswork. The truth is, as accurate as you try to be, your estimates may still end up a bit off track.

Project planning software makes this work easier by providing a central place to document and share plans with stakeholders. It allows you to automate timeline planning and milestone setting. It also provides reliable historical data to inform decisions for future projects.

With project planning software, you can forecast potential risks and resource shortages before they happen. You can track the availability and capacity of resources and find the right skills in your resource pool, effectively planning your project from start to finish.

Not sure which tool is best for you? Check out our listicle of project planning tools that helps you evaluate each tool and choose one that works.

Project plans are not set in stone

The planning phase is iterative. More often than not, you will need to change your project management plan to match reality.

Don't hesitate to find a way to redistribute resources or cut costs if you are falling behind schedule. If your communication plan isn't working, reassess and try new ways to keep your stakeholders informed .  

A successful project requires contributions from everyone involved, and that’s only possible with a solid project plan.

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5 Phases of Project Management Life Cycle | Complete Guide

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If you’re just diving into the world of project management for the first time, you might feel intimidated by starting a new project. Fortunately, you can utilize the project life cycle, which is a set of stages that takes a project from start to completion. Read on to learn about each phase of the project lifecycle, its role in the success of the project, and how you can properly manage each phase for optimum results.

What are Project Phases?

Project phases are smaller portions of a project that represent distinct goals or milestones in the larger project lifecycle. Within the project lifecycle, there are 5 project phases, as defined by the Project Management Institute: 

• Project Initiation
• Project Planning
• Project Execution
• Project Monitoring and Control
• Project Closure

An entire project comes with a lot of requirements before it could even start, which are often gathered during the discovery phase or requirement phase. Once the project kicks off, each stage of the actual execution itself has another set of specific requirements of the project team, as well as key deliverables and action items that keep the project moving forward successfully. Mastering project phases is essential for keeping the project on track while completing essential tasks and checkpoints throughout the process. 

Read more: 14 Important Questions Project Managers Should Ask the Team

What are the 5 phases of project management, project initiation phase.

A team’s performance during the Project Initiation Phase can result in either authorization, delay, or discontinuation of a new project.

The main goal of the Initiation Phase is to ensure that the project meets business needs and that stakeholders and project teams are aligned on the project success criteria throughout the project life cycle.

To achieve the project goal, it’s best to involve internal and external stakeholders from the Initiation Phase . This way, you can effectively align expectations and increase the likelihood of completing all the deliverables throughout the project management life cycle.

During the Initiation Phase, the entire project team defines the project idea, and the project sponsor evaluates it and authorizes the project to proceed. The project manager starts the documentation process, which includes the justification, deliverables, risks, estimated cost, and resource requirements.

The Project Charter is a key deliverable of the Project Initiation Phase and contains all this information. It is the first formal definition of the project. It authorizes the project to exist, establishes the authority of the project manager, and documents high-level requirements, project milestones, and success criteria.

Another important document in the Initiation Phase is the Stakeholder Register. This document includes information about all the stakeholders of the project. It identifies the people, groups, and organizations that have an interest in the task, project, and its results.

Approval of the Project Charter signals the advance of the project to the next phase, the Project Planning Phase.

Read more: What is a Project Charter? Complete Guide & Examples

Project Planning Phase

Once the expectations and success criteria are clear, the next project management life cycle phase focuses on planning each task the team needs to perform to cover the scope, achieve the deliverables, and meet the overall goal.

In the Project Planning Phase, the project team members dive into specific requirements, tasks, timelines, and actions. The project manager works with the entire team to create the design, enumerate the task list, and estimate the budget.

The project team builds the resource plan, the communications plan, and the initial project schedule. The project manager also establishes the roles and responsibilities of the team and stakeholders. The project scope is finalized depending on approved available resources and client priorities.

During the Planning Phase , the project team finalizes the Work Breakdown Structure, Project Plan, Requirements List, Communications Management Plan, and other relevant documents to iron out the workflow and coordination with involved parties.

The Project Plan is a key deliverable and contains a detailed work breakdown structure (WBS) or task list with start and end dates, and estimated effort and duration. It identifies milestones, resources, and the schedule. It also includes task dependencies that will allow the project team to use the critical path method if it chooses.

Other important deliverables are the Communications Management Plan, which helps facilitate effective communication with stakeholders, and the Resource Allocation Plan which identifies the schedule of project team resources as to their availability during the whole project life cycle.

Something PMs should keep in mind: As you discover more information, you may have to adjust your previous Project Plan and related procedures. More complex projects will require more back-and-forth approvals for every task created.

Project planning is an iterative process so the project manager should review, revise, and revisit all the plans at least once a month until the completion of the project. It is crucial for the project team to involve relevant stakeholders in this stage of the project life cycle as well.

Read more: Project Management Communication Plan

Project Execution Phase

The Project Execution Phase is where the project team executes and follows through on tasks based on the Project Plan. At this stage, the team spends most of its time coordinating with people, helping to ensure quality work, keeping track of resources, and updating stakeholders.

Sometimes called the Implementation Phase, this is the phase when the project manager tries to manage every task and aspect of project delivery to keep the project on track for the remaining duration of the project life cycle.

The project team focuses on achieving all the objectives set in the earlier phases. At this phase, the project leader likely uses project management software to assign every task to team members. Tools that centralize task information, along with resource availability and team communication can simplify and optimize the needed project management processes.

Quality Assurance documentation, meeting minutes, and Work Orders are some of the documents created during the Execution Phase of the project management life cycle.

It’s also likely that you’ll discover new information that will require a revisit and update of the initial project management plans. Be vigilant with change requests, and make sure that the necessary adjustments are managed.

Read more: Understanding Different Types of Stakeholders and Their Roles

Project Monitoring & Control Phase

The best way to ensure progress and improvement is by tracking and reviewing project performance.

Simultaneously during execution, the project team carefully tracks the progress of the project based on the Project Plan established earlier. Tracking the performance of the project through various metrics is crucial to ensure the project stays on schedule, within budget, and within scope.

The project team keeps track of change management documents, spending records, QA checklists, and team time tracking. They are able to measure where efforts and resources go throughout the project life cycle, crosschecking it with the Project Plan.

Both the Execution Phase and Monitoring & Control Phase are critical times that can determine project success. Aside from monitoring the progress of tasks, the project manager also tries to identify issues or risks, creates a mitigation plan with the team, and reports the project status regularly to stakeholders.

Being diligent in recording and measuring project progress puts the project team in a strategic position. They can identify bottlenecks and initiate essential discussions or project management process improvements.

Having a proactive approach will allow the project team to respond rapidly to any change in the plan. Consistent and appropriate status reporting will update interested stakeholders and provide them the opportunity to intervene in or redirect the project as needed.

If additional planning, time, or resources are needed, you’ll need to communicate them to relevant project stakeholders before it’s too late. You’ll also have the data and results to back up your requests, so you have a better chance of justifying your requests and maintaining their trust despite circumstances.

Read more: 10 Best Project Management Software Buyers’ Guide

Project Closure Phase

In the last project management life cycle phase, all the activities related to its completion are concluded. These may involve the submission of a final deliverable, fulfilling contractual obligations, terminating relevant agreements, and releasing project resources.

The causes of a project closure can be completion, cancellation, termination, or transfer to a new organization. The documentation required to complete Project Closure will differ depending on the situation.

In this phase, the project manager communicates the final project disposition and status to all stakeholders. This phase also ensures to inform participants and stakeholders of any follow-on activities or continuing product life cycle so they can communicate and coordinate with the people in charge.

Regardless of the outcome of the project life cycle, however, it would be good for the team to conduct a project retrospective. During this post-mortem activity, the project team can process new lessons and ensure the improvement of current project management processes for a future project.

During the project closeout, documents to turn over can include various project documentation, final meeting minutes, and other closure reports. These documents can identify and capture lessons learned and best practices for future reference and reuse.

It is a good idea to organize and store project materials in a shared team folder. These materials can provide reference during performance evaluation. The opportunity to continuously test, improve, or reinvent ways to manage the whole project life cycle can help grow the organization and its business.

Read more: How to Host a Good Project Post-Mortem Meeting

VIDEO: Recap of 5 Project Management Phases

Why Are Project Phases Important?

All projects go through each of the five phases regardless of their size.

The decision to officially divide a project into phases is an excellent way to manage the team’s focus, allocate resources, and align the entire project life cycle with clients and stakeholders.

By thinking in terms of phases, the project team ensures that deliverables produced at the end of each phase meet the project’s goals. Managing a project by phase also makes sure that the team is properly prepared for the next phase.

Project life cycle phases provide additional benefits. The approach provides a structured approach for project delivery. Defined activities, outputs, and responsibilities create a clear and common roadmap for the project team to follow.

Defined phases and defined roles show a visible framework easily understood by all team members and stakeholders. Assignment of responsibilities by phase clarifies what the team should only be doing in each phase and helps streamline communication.

Working on projects phase by phase helps track and link progress directly to each phase. Completion of each phase is easily recognizable by all involved.

Another benefit of project management by phase is the progressive evolution of the project. This helps identify areas that need greater attention for a particular phase. It also marks clearly the points and opportunities for structured reviews to support project governance.

Though equally important, they are not to be confused with the process groups outlined in PMBOK’s IPECC model , which also includes initiation, planning, execution, control, and closure but refers to a collection of activities needed to achieve specific goals. Process groups are sometimes considered part of project phases.

While PMBOK recommends assigning project phases according to a project’s life cycle, project teams can follow their own system depending on their industry, organizational policies, and other relevant factors. For example, teams and organizations focused on monitoring the usage of resources can use the critical chain project management methodology.

Read next: Key Project Management Terms and Concepts

Throughout the project lifecycle, there are a variety of tools that can be used to limit stress, automate workflows, and keep the project moving successfully. 

Gantt Charts

Gantt charts are a powerful planning tool that can help teams visualize individual deadlines against task dependencies and overall project progress. This type of chart can be especially useful early on in the project lifecycle, particularly the planning stage. 

Project Management Software

Project management software solutions are likely the most well-known tools in project management—and for good reason. Within one application, users can set task deadlines, view project overviews, extract data about project progress, automate workflows, and more. 

Collaboration Tools

Whether it’s a remote team, in-office, or a hybrid blend, collaboration is one of the most important elements of running a successful project. While some project management software solutions offer built-in collaboration tools, utilizing the power of other tools that are directly centered around team communication, such as Slack, can ensure the team has a central space to communicate updates. 

Throughout the project lifecycle, the project manager takes ownership of the project and relays updates to team members. As each phase of the project progresses, the project manager will facilitate discussions, track progress, and address any roadblocks.

The project initiation phase is arguably the most important phase of the project lifecycle, as this is when the project is conceived and approved so that work can begin. During this phase, it’s common for a team to present a proposal in order to gain approval for the project.

Read more: Project Proposal with Template

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Top 20 project management methodologies

Choosing the right project management methodology is essential. here are the 20 most popular project management methodologies (pmms) in practice today..

With the right project management methodology, project management offices (PMOs) can assist their organizations in improving business outcomes — but this requires more than recognizing organizational priorities. For most companies, recent external forces such as COVID-19 and industry disruptions brought about by the pace of digital change have shifted company goals and priorities, making it necessary to re-evaluate whether the project methodologies they have in place can effectively and efficiently achieve new business goals while reducing risks

With so many different — and in some cases, overlapping — approaches to managing the complexities of any given project, how can you know which project management methodology is best? Here, we outline the most popular project management methodologies (PMMs) in practice today, comparing their focus and principles.

When considering these project management methodologies, it is important to note that there isn’t always a single solution in all cases, even within the same organization. The following table provides a brief snapshot of the focus of the 20 most popular project management methodologies, with the benefits — and drawbacks — of each defined more broadly below.

Waterfall is recognized as a traditional sequential methodology and has been a mainstay project management methodology for many years. It is used across many industries, but most commonly in software development. It comprises static phases (requirements analysis, design, testing, implementation, and maintenance) that are executed in a specific, linear order.

Waterfall allows for increased control throughout each phase. It offers a more formal planning stage that may increase the chances of capturing all project requirements upfront. It reduces the loss of any key information and requirements in the initial stages. One downside is that waterfall can be highly inflexible if a project’s scope changes after it is already under way.

Agile takes a significantly different approach to project management . It was initially developed for projects that require significant flexibility and speed, and it is focused on providing continuous improvement to delivering better quality solutions. To achieve this, agile is composed of short delivery cycles, aka “sprints.” Agile may be best-suited for projects requiring less control and more real-time communication within self-motivated team settings.

As a project management methodology, agile is highly interactive, allowing for rapid adjustments throughout a project. It is commonly used in software development projects in large part because it makes it easier to identify issues quickly and to make modifications early in the development process, rather than having to wait until testing is complete. Agile offers repeatable processes, reduces risk, allows for immediate feedback, provides fast turnaround, and reduces complexity. Drawbacks of agile include a greater time commitment needed from stakeholders when going through each iteration and potentially less documentation compared to waterfall.

Waterfall and agile hybrid

While many teams will favor either waterfall or agile, the benefits of both approaches can create a case for a hybrid project management methodology solution, one in which the planning and requirements phase is undertaken under a waterfall approach and the design, develop, implement, and evaluate phases follow the agile methodology.

Critical path method (CPM)

CPM is a step-by-step methodology used for projects with interdependent activities. It is focused on maximizing project activities and finding the shortest path (timeline) to task and project success using a work-breakdown structure (WBS) and a timeline to complete, as well as dependencies, milestones, and deliverables. It outlines critical and noncritical activities by calculating the “longest” (on the critical path) and “shortest” (float) time to complete tasks to determine which activities are critical and which are not. One downside to CPM is that some teams may not always recognize the critical path, especially in larger more complex projects.

Critical chain project management (CCPM)

CCPM differs from CPM in that it focuses on the use of resources within a project instead of project activities. To address potential issues with resources, buffers are built in to ensure projects are on time and that safety is not compromised. It requires ensuring everyone is up to speed on critical chain and effort to gain buy-in into this methodology from all stakeholders.

Six Sigma was originally developed by Motorola to eliminate waste and improve processes and profits. It is data-driven and has three key components:

• DMAIC: Define, measure, analyze, improve and control
• DMADV: Define, measure, analyze, design and verify
• DFSS: Design for Six Sigma, which can include the previous options, as well as others, such as IDOV (identify, design, optimize and verify).

Six Sigma is sometimes debated as a methodology in the project management community. This methodology adds some potential rigidity that can stifle creativity or delay project delivery.

Named after a play formation in rugby, Scrum is part of the agile framework and is also interactive in nature. “Scrum sessions” or “30-day sprints” are used to determine prioritized tasks. A Scrum master is used to facilitate instead of a project manager. Small teams may be assembled to focus on specific tasks independently and then meet with the Scrum master to evaluate progress or results and reprioritize backlogged tasks. Larger teams may have trouble adapting to Scrum and it can fail or be subject to scope creep, especially if all team members are not fully engaged and committed. To avoid duplication and confusion, roles need to be well-defined.

Lean development (LD)

Originally designed by Toyota, Lean was developed to focus on reducing waste while maximizing output and increasing stakeholder value. While Lean got its start in the manufacturing industry, it is applied in various industries today because its focus is not sector-specific. Lean follows seven key principles: reduce waste, improve quality, share knowledge with others, remain in a state of continuous improvement, faster turnaround, removing silos, and maintaining an environment of respect. Lean relies on full stakeholder commitment, which can be problematic when stakeholders are reluctant to change or afraid of change. This can result in delivery inconsistencies.

Lean Six Sigma

This hybrid of Lean and Six Sigma focuses on the customer with the goal of improving business efficiency and effectiveness in identifying and understanding how the work gets done (the value stream). Lean Six Sigma strives to improve processes, remove unnecessary waste, and reduce defects, but it can be costly and time-consuming for companies to implement in-house.

Kanban focuses on ongoing collaboration and fosters an environment of continuous learning and improvement. It uses visual boards and cards to help teams see tasks that are complete, in progress, and outstanding. All activities are based on being able to visualize daily tasks, carefully balance work in progress, and manage backlog. Overloaded or outdated boards, however, can create confusion or result in failure. 

Scrumban provides product development and support teams with the best features from Scrum and Kanban. By combining Kanban’s pull system and Scrum’s backlog prioritization and short cycles, teams are not only able to complete work quickly and effectively, but also improve processes by exposing areas of weakness. By leveraging the benefits of both frameworks, teams eventually reduce waste, shorten lead time, turnaround time, and deliver higher quality products and services. Geared toward larger teams, the success of Scrumban relies on a stable supply of products or components and team roles need to be well-defined.

Event chain methodology (ECM)

As an additional option to CPM or CCPM, ECM is focused on identifying, analyzing, and managing any potential risks at the start of a project. The goal is to determine the chance of a risk becoming a reality, when it might strike, and what the impact might be to the project. There are six major principles that guide ECM: identifying a chain of events, identifying their timing and status, identifying critical events, mapping out or diagraming the chain of events, monitoring the chain of events performance, and quantifying the impact. Some teams may not recognize that an event can trigger an opportunity rather than just a potential problem.

Extreme programming (XP)

This methodology is intended to improve the quality and functionality of software as stakeholder needs change. XP uses short development cycles and requires constant collaboration, due to frequent releases. Advantages: XP can do wonders for productivity for a project team that needs a high production level. Teams are kept on their toes and find XP less focused and structured.

As an agile approach, Crystal was designed by IBM as a way to improve project results by focusing efforts on the people-side of projects. Specifically the focus is placed on the skills, abilities, and collaboration of team members. Crystal is based on two core beliefs.

• Teams are likely to identify and develop workflow improvements
• Projects are unique, making it more likely that project teams are the most suited for determining how to do the work more effectively.

Crystal might not be suitable for some remote teams due to the need for close and frequent communication and brainstorming.

Feature-driven development (FDD)

Developed for larger-scale projects but applicable to projects of any size, FDD helps to address some of the complexities that larger projects might pose by developing fast, repeatable processes that can be accomplished in smaller spans of time by various teams throughout an organization. This approach follows some key processes that include developing an overall model, compiling a list of features, planning based on each of the identified features, designing the features, and building the features. FDD may not work best for smaller teams, and limited written stakeholder documentation may become an issue.

Dynamic systems development method (DSDM)

Developed as a way to align with companywide strategic goals, DSDM focuses on the delivery of proven business benefits. This approach focuses on eight key principles:

• The need to stay focused on business requirements
• On-time delivery
• Collaboration is essential
• Quality as a top priority
• Building incrementally based on solid pillars
• Using an iterative development approach
• Using clear and ongoing communication
• Maintaining control

Costly implementations using DSDM makes it less suited to smaller businesses.

Adaptive software development (ASD)

This approach works to help teams become more agile when dealing with change. Teams are encouraged to remain in a state of continuous learning in order to improve development. ASD is built on a three-phases, speculation, collaboration, and learning. ASD requires a significant amount of resourcing and higher costs making it more suitable for larger organizations.

Rapid application development (RAD)

RAD focuses on the user’s input based on testing, and how well a product is working compared to its intended goals. RAD first identifies the requirements, quickly builds prototypes and garners user input. Then based on the input, identifies requirements and builds prototypes again. User testing is then conducted and the final product is delivered. RAD is more complex and requires experienced and skilled team members seeking to deliver in shorter time frames.

Rational unified process (RUP)

RUP helps teams simplify product development and helps reduce risks. It works well in software development projects. It is similar to Waterfall, but RUP has four iterative phases: inception, elaboration, construction, and transition. Each stage involves regular and frequent stakeholder feedback while exploring ideas and defining requirements. One potential issue is, RUP is process-dependent and relies heavily on stakeholder feedback.

Combines waterfall and an iterative mode to make it easier for teams to adapt. Spiral is divided into four stages: analysis, risk evaluation, execution, and planning. It works best for long-term and higher-risk projects. Within every stage there are multiple risk assessments and review processes. Spiral is costly and is less suitable for smaller projects.

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7 Essential Project Management Techniques In 2024

Updated: Jun 18, 2024, 9:05am

Table of Contents

1. work breakdown structure (wbs), 2. critical path method (cpm), 3. waterfall, 6. gantt chart, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Top project managers use proven project management techniques to successfully manage a project. A project management technique is a framework or tool that helps plan, organize and execute a project. There are many project management techniques available. The best one for you depends on the size, complexity and objectives of your project as well as the makeup of your team.

In this article, we discuss the top project management techniques so you can choose the best one for your needs.

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Work breakdown structure (WBS) is a project management technique that segments larger projects into more manageable deliverables. WBS organizes your project by tree-like hierarchy, with your overall project objective at the top. From there, dependencies of the parent objective are identified, and at the bottom, these dependencies are broken down into specific tasks.

WBS is a visual project management technique that typically uses workflow management software or Kanban boards to manage the dependencies and tasks of a project. WBS is great for defining a project’s scope, identifying dependencies, estimating timelines and costs, assigning tasks to team members and tracking the project’s overall progress.

The WBS project management technique is therefore best for larger, more complex projects that need to be broken down into smaller parts. This is because complex projects typically have many dependencies and subtasks, and WBS is great at identifying and planning for them.

The critical path method (CPM) is a project management framework used to identify the longest sequence of critical activities necessary to complete a project on time. This “critical path” represents the shortest time possible for completing a project. Each activity on the critical path is sequential, meaning that any delays in a critical task will delay the overall project.

The CPM method is used to identify the most important tasks of a project, uncover sequential task dependencies and calculate a task duration for each critical activity. From there, you can calculate an overall project timeline based on the duration of each critical task. The critical path is typically represented as a visual diagram that includes all sequential task dependencies and their time estimates, helping you manage the overall project.

The CPM project management technique is great to use when you’re managing a complex project where time is the most important or limiting factor. It’s also a great technique to use if you’re managing a project with a lot of linear task dependencies. This differs slightly from the work breakdown structure technique, which is better when you have a project with separate sets of dependencies you can work on at the same time.

The Waterfall project management technique is a leading methodology that helps you manage a linear project. With this technique, a project is broken down into sequential stages, with each stage needing to be completed before moving on to the next step. The Waterfall method provides a clear plan from the start and identifies dependencies before the project begins. However, it’s a rigid technique that may prove challenging if your project scope or objectives change over time.

There are six stages of the Waterfall method, which include the following:

• Requirements gathering: Project information is gathered during this stage to help stakeholders craft a detailed project plan .
• Design: Using software as an example, this stage outlines design needs including coding languages, software architecture, user interfaces and required hardware.
• Implementation: Continuing with the software example, this is the stage where you actually develop the software based on your design and requirements.
• Verification: With the software built, the next stage is to test and debug it to ensure your product is working properly.
• Deployment: Once the software is working properly, it’s time to make it available to your customers.
• Maintenance: This stage represents the ongoing process of keeping your software updated and free of defects in order to improve performance.

The Waterfall project management technique is best for projects that aren’t expected to change over time and need clear direction from the start. However, projects that need flexibility throughout the project timeline should consider another technique such as Scrum, below.

The Scrum project management technique is an Agile framework that helps you manage a project in short cycles called “sprints.” Each sprint lasts roughly one or two weeks, with daily stand-up meetings to keep team members on track. At the start of each sprint, the team commits to completing a certain amount of tasks. At the end of each sprint, the team meets for a longer retrospective and then plans for the next sprint based on the completed tasks.

Scrums are led by a “product owner” who keeps track of an overall project backlog of tasks using a Scrum board . A Scrum board is a visual representation of your project broken down into specific columns: Project Backlog, Sprint Backlog, In Progress, Review and Done. Tasks are represented as cards that move through these columns.

Each sprint, tasks are moved from the Project Backlog to the Sprint Backlog. When a team member starts a new task, it’s moved to In Progress. Once it’s completed, the task is reviewed and moved to the Done column.

The product owner will conduct periodic backlog grooming to ensure the project backlog remains up to date based on the work completed. For this reason, Scrum is a great technique for projects that may change over time and need shorter feedback loops, as with software development.

Kanban is a lean project management framework that helps project managers and team members manage their workflow and eliminate waste. Kanban boards are used to visualize your workflow with columns. Tasks are represented as cards on your board. As tasks are completed, your cards move through the various columns of your workflow to mark them done.

Kanban boards are essentially simpler versions of Scrum boards and often use the same project management software . Typically, a Kanban board is broken down into three columns: To-Do, Doing and Done. This helps project managers and team members limit the number of tasks they’re working on at any one time to increase focus.

Kanban is a great technique for visualizing your workflow, managing tasks and identifying work-in-progress limits. Similar to Scrum, it’s a flexible project management technique that’s great for projects that require flexibility and may change over time.

A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart used by project managers to visualize project tasks and the timeline required to complete each one. Gantt charts consist of three components: the tasks of a project, the start date of each task and the end date of each task. These tasks are then organized on the X axis sequentially, with a bar for each task representing its start and end date on the Y axis. Gantt charts are typically created in a tool such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

The program evaluation and review technique (PERT) is a project management technique and tool used to estimate a project’s timeline. It’s seen as a more complex version of a Gantt chart or the critical path method (CPM). The PERT technique first identifies the tasks of a project and calculates three time estimates for each task: the optimistic time, the pessimistic time and the most likely time.

From there, the three time estimates are used to create a weighted average estimate for each task. Then, a critical path of necessary tasks is identified and the weighted average time estimates are used to calculate the overall project timeline. Once the critical path is identified, a flowchart is created to show the relationship between tasks rather than sequentially. PERT can be more accurate than a Gantt chart or the critical path method (CPM) when assessing a project’s timeline. However, it’s more complex than both techniques and should only be used for projects with a lot of uncertainty where multiple time estimates are necessary to come up with an average.

Bottom Line

Project management techniques represent the top frameworks and tools to help you manage a project successfully. There are many project management techniques to choose from, each with benefits and drawbacks. When choosing the right technique for you, ensure you’re accurately assessing your project scope, complexity, requirements and team.

What’s the difference between a project management methodology and technique?

A project management methodology is a guiding set of principles that help you manage a project. Meanwhile, a project management technique is a framework that gives you specific processes or tools to implement your chosen methodology. Some methodologies, including Waterfall, provide both principles and techniques, while others such as Agile simply provide the principles and have separate techniques that others have created.

What are the top project management methodologies?

The top project management methodologies include the Waterfall, Agile and lean methodologies. Lesser-used methodologies include PRINCE2, Six Sigma and more.

What are the basic project management techniques?

Basic project management techniques include frameworks or tools based on the lean or Agile methodologies. These techniques include Kanban and Scrum, most helpful for projects that require flexibility and shorter feedback loops.

What are the advanced project management techniques?

Advanced project management techniques include the Waterfall method, critical path method (CPM), program evaluation and review technique (PERT) and more. These techniques are best suited for complex projects with numerous dependencies or those where time is the limiting factor.

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What is Project Planning? Steps, Process, Importance, Tools

Home Blog Project Management What is Project Planning? Steps, Process, Importance, Tools

There is a golden adage that says - "you don't plan to fail but you fail to plan"; well, it holds pretty much the same importance in project management as it does in all aspects of life. Project planning is quintessential to the project and projects that are not planned well result in unwanted overheads or at times sunk costs which result in pressures on the execution of the project and often escalate situations out of control for the project manager. 

What is Project Planning in Project Management?   

Project planning or project management planning is the foundation and most important stage of the project management life-cycle. The project planning activity sets the project foundations by base-lining the project scope, schedule, quality standards, objectives, and goals. Planning typically involves creating a document with all project information that comprises the respective tasks, assignee's, and areas of responsibility.

A project plan usually includes management plans for all areas of the project viz - integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, communication, risk, procurement, and stakeholders. Creating a consolidated project plan can be done manually or with the help of automated project management software such as Agile Central, Jira, Asana, Wrike, nTask, etc. Creating a comprehensive project plan and envisioning a concrete project execution strategy can streamline and strengthen the project process and ensure successful project execution and delivery. 

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Why is Project Planning Important?   

In a formal project management life cycle, projects begin with the project charter providing authority to the project manager to utilize organizational resources and assets for the project. A lot of novice professionals may at this point question - what is project planning & why is it important? Here is where the importance of the project planning phase comes into the picture as planning goes a few steps ahead and guides the project manager in strategising: 

• How the project will move ahead i.e. how to plan a project’s activities,
• What kind of resources will be engaged at what duration,
• How unforeseen situations will be handled, and finally,
• What will be the baselines against which progress will be measured and reported 

The planning process in project management forms the basis of the next project phases i.e. execution, monitoring & controlling closure, and also stipulates how the project team will pursue the goals outlined in the business case and project charter. Project planning in project management is also important from a cost-saving perspective as any project can easily run into unknowns, environmental challenges, and scope creep that haunt the completion and delivery of any/all types of projects. It is only effective project planning that provides the required structure and foresight, thereby helping eliminate wasteful tasks and patterns to optimize efficiency and execution. 

Types of Project Planning   

Project planning can be of various types depending on the objective, scope, and purview of the activity in consideration. The 3 broad categories of planning include: 

• Vertical Planning  - involves creating a detailed hourly plan to roll up to the day and is also known as daily planning as it is done on that particular day; 
• Horizontal Planning - involves creating a plan for the day as a whole instead of focusing on every hour and can be done weekly or monthly as well; 
• Joint Planning - as the name suggests, involves both horizontal and vertical planning i.e. planning the tasks for the day as well as the week to have a bird's eye view and also a detailed plan at the same time. Joint planning requires careful consideration of the task duration and order of items, to sequence activities and complete them. 

What are the Components of a Project Plan?   

• Scope - Project scope includes the stakeholder requirements, deliverables, and goals that attribute to the project's success and completion. 
• Budget - Budget allocations define which resources will be aligned to the particular project activities based on their priority and requirements. Budget planning involves the allocation of people, processes, and technology per project needs.
• Timeline - Project planning involves defining timelines to the scope and aligning project tasks and activities, creating schedules with milestones, and tracking progress. 

Together, these 3 components viz, scope, budget, and timeline determine what the project will accomplish, how much will be spent on the project and when will the project be delivered and completed and form the foundation for an effective project planning process. 

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Project Management Planning Techniques   

Project management planning techniques are what put the whole project planning process in project management into real and practical action. They help formulate the roadmap with milestones, deliverables, and task-level action plan to create the project deliverables and complete the project successfully. While there may be many different techniques that project managers may use, each of them has its impact on the project outcomes and may be used at different times during the project. 

1.  SMART Goals 

Goal setting is the first step in the project planning methodology and entails creating an outline of the project outcome to define what steps need to be completed and what activities need to be performed to achieve the desired outcome. In this process, the goals that are defined should have the following attributes: 

• Specific - should be clear and concise to be achieved 
• Measurable - should be quantifiable and not open to interpretation 
• Attainable - should be realistic and feasible 
• Relevant - should align with the overall business objectives 
• Time-bound - should have a deadline or time-limit

2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) 

WBS is what defines how the overall project goals will be broken down into unit-level tasks/activities that will help create project deliverables to achieve project outcomes. It is essentially a visual representation of project tasks and activities presented in a hierarchical format. Creating a WBS involves breaking up high-level goal statements into doable tasks and activities to their respective unit level and allocating resources to the WBS items to create the outlined deliverables. There is also a WBS dictionary that augments the definition, break-up, and scope of work packages i.e. items in the WBS chart.

3. Cost Breakdown Structure 

This is an extension of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and is a hierarchical representation of costs at various levels of the WBS. CBS represents the cost of components in the WBS. It is a useful tool for structuring project financial management and the application of cost controls to track and manage project costs. 

4. Action Priority Matrix 

This is a prioritization tool that determines the sequence of tasks to balance between time and resources to optimize efficiencies. An action priority matrix is most useful in critical situations or time-crunch scenarios in the project. It has 4 quadrants - resulting in 4 possibilities, that are: 

• Quick Wins/urgent
• Major projects/not urgent 
• Fill-ins/delegate 
• Hard slogs/Postpone or ignore 

5. Milestone Trend Analysis (MTA）  

This is an important project scheduling and control tool which helps project teams determine whether the project is ahead of schedule or behind schedule and applies techniques or corrective actions to avoid variance. MTA involves creating a chart with the planning line vs the implementation line along with the respective milestones to represent trends and analyze the same. With the help of MTA, project managers can easily identify the bottlenecks and any constraints that may derail the project from its planned course of action. Want to get a project management certification? Understand the nitty-gritties of the real world project management life cycle easily in our PRINCE2 course ! 

10 Steps to Successful Project Planning   

Step 1: Define stakeholders  

Identifying and defining stakeholders is the first step to successful project planning as any stakeholder identified late will cause scope-creep or unwarranted changes which may be too expensive for the project. 

Step 2:  Define roles & responsibilities  

Outlining clear roles and responsibilities is an important next step; not all stakeholders will have the same level of interest in the project and hence it is important to establish the responsibility, accountability, and role expectations in the project.

Step 3:  Introduce stakeholders   

Bringing the stakeholders together and introducing them to the project as well as each other in a formal setup helps build trust and alignment with the overall project and organizational goals. This step helps ensure everyone's voices are heard and also secures commitment from stakeholders for the project. 

Step 4:  Set goals  

Goal setting is the key step in planning, without which it will be impossible to assess project success and mark the project closed upon completion i.e. meeting the defined goals. 

Step 5:  Prioritize tasks   

Task prioritization is the key to understanding what kind of resources will be aligned to the project at what durations. Not having a prioritized list of tasks will only confuse overlapping activities and also cost overruns in the project execution. 

Step 6:  Create a schedule   

Once the goals are established and prioritized, creating a roadmap with the project milestones helps understand dependencies, constraints, and sequencing of activities for the project. Project scheduling helps outline which activities will be completed in what order, how and when they will start, what will be their outcomes and how will the project manager track and measure progress. 

Step 7:  Assess risks   

Risks are uncertain events that may affect the project and planning involves understanding the risk and assessing its probability i.e. the chance of occurrence as well as its impact i.e. the effect on the project 

Step 8:  Communicate   

Communication plays a key role in project management and according to the PM role, a project manager spends about 90% of the time communicating. Communication of plans, timely reviews, and change management are all important aspects of the project that need attention at regular intervals. 

Step 9:  Reassess   

Reviewing and adjusting planning activity is as important as planning itself. An outdated plan can be as dangerous as having no plan at all and will give false direction to the project team and stakeholders. 

Step 10:  Final evaluation   

Project plans need to be evaluated and signed off by those accountable; every planning activity must inculcate the practice of inspection and adaptation post which the adjusted planning decisions must go through final evaluation and approval.  

How can Project Planning Software Help to Plan Projects?   

Project planning and implementation of planned activities involve handling a lot of concurrencies and managing a lot of conflicting tasks, priorities, and resources. This activity often entails a thorough understanding of the current state as well as the proposed state/outcome of the project. In such an intense environment, project management software can be a boon if rightly used to align and sequence project activities.

The project planning software essentially creates a structured framework for collaboration and automation of recurring tasks and processes. Planning software also facilitates the centralization of all information making it easy to retrieve and available on a need basis, especially in hybrid and agile setups where communication is the lifestream of business activities and execution. Project management software provides a transparent overview of completed, in progress, and planned projects to avoid bottlenecks and manage dependencies effectively. A short overview of project planning benefits include: 

• Improved schedule management 
• Facilitate cross-team communication and collaboration 
• Provide visibility to better manage and mitigate risks 
• Effective breakdown and allocation of tasks
• Improved team productivity 
• Easy-to-use reports and dashboards 

Best Project Planning Tools and Software in 2023   

1. gantt chart .

Gantt charts are one of the most essential and effective tools project managers use to track project progress and are used throughout the project lifecycle. They facilitate the creation of a visual project schedule/roadmap, point out milestones, and dependencies, and act as an indispensable information radiator for teams and stakeholders. Gantt charts are quite popular with teams of any size/methodology because they project the most realistic project schedule when correctly maintained and can highlight areas of risk or attention to project managers.

2. Critical Path Method (CPM) 

CPM is one of the most undermined project planning and management techniques. It involves envisaging the longest path or sequence of activities in the project by making use of the Gantt chart, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and network diagramming techniques. The activities that fall on this sequence or "critical path" are termed critical activities and assume the highest priority on the project schedule. The other activities which do not fall on this critical path are activities that have a float and this helps determine the other path i.e. the critical path which represents the shortest time needed to complete the project.

3. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) Chart 

PERT is an estimation as well as scheduling technique that uses probabilities and simple statistical calculations to create a visual PERT diagram and identify independent activities. It is represented in the form of nodes and arrows sketched based on the order of activities in the project. Once the activity diagram is created, the earliest time (ET), latest time (TL), and slack time are determined for each activity. 

4. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) 

WBS is a technique that comes in handy to organize and track project tasks sequentially and hierarchically. It is a visual representation of every task in the project and involves the decomposition of work into a smaller and more manageable set of tasks/activities. It is often used by project managers in conjunction with CPM and PERT. 

5. Project Documentation  

Project documentation is the beginning point that provides a glimpse of the project details, status, and open items. Every project should have a knowledge base or repository which aids newcomers to ramp up quickly on the project know-how and also address their concerns effectively.

Tips for Project Planning   

• Always start with the end in mind. 
• Understand project objectives, benefits, success metrics 
• Identify stakeholders and their interests 
• Understand the current state/problem statement 
• Understand the proposed state/solution statement 
• Define roles and responsibilities 
• Review risks and communicate about them 
• Create a unit-level roadmap with milestones
• Ensure to be considerate of environmental challenges 
• Revisit and review the plans drafted frequently along with tracking changes 

Apart from the above tips for project planning professionals, it is very vital to understand when to quit or pull the plug in certain unfortunate circumstances where projects drag and go on the downside - in which case, absorbing the sunk costs and shutting down the projects is only the feasible and economical resort. 

Simple Project Plan Example  

A traditional or simple project plan primarily has the following components: 

• Project purpose 
• Project stakeholders information 
• Executive summary 
• Business Objectives 
• Work Breakdown Structure 
• Deployment and Change Control Process 
• Schedule Management 
• Milestones and Dependencies 
• Project Schedule Representation 
• Cost Management and Budgeting 
• Quality Management 
• Resource Management 
• Communication Management 
• Risk Management 
• Procurement Management 
• Project KPIs and Metrics

Agile Project Plan Example   

An agile project plan follows the same structure as a traditional project plan with the only difference being that the project scheduling and activities are iterative and move in a continuous feedback loop. 

Free Project Planning Templates   

• project plan template - IC-Agile-Project-Plan-Template_Google_Doc  
• Gantt chart template - Gantt Chart Template Google Sheet  
• Multiple project roadmap template - IC-Multiple-Project-Roadmap-Template_Google_Doc  
• PM timeline template - IC-Multiple-Project-Roadmap-Template_Google_Doc  
• Project tracking template - Project tracking  

Become a certified project management professional with our PRINCE2 Practitioner courses . Elevate your career and master the art of project management.

How Project Planning Can Improve Your Organization and Career?   

Project planning is a non-negotiable ingredient for the success of any project manager or organization. Its importance in the project lifecycle cannot be overstated. When performed rightly, planning helps every other function and part of the organization perform smoothly. Structured planning not only aids the project manager in daily execution but also frees up the project progress from distractions due to off-track tasks, budgets, and controls. Regular planning and review help the project manager optimize efficiency, align only required resources, and save costs for the project and organization. 

In reality, projects tend to go on and on without a firm end unless planned appropriately and reviewed frequently. It is planning that defines what activities should be sequenced in what order to create project deliverables and complete projects as expected. In short, better project planning results in better project execution and controls as it addresses a lot of key aspects such as: 

• Improve overall business processes
• Provides opportunities to bring in economies of scale 
• Reduces rework and waste 
• Obtaining stakeholder alignment from the start 
• Helps in outlining a clear project scope 
• Creates transparency in roles and responsibilities 
• Provides opportunities to flag risks in advance and chalk out mitigation plans 

Apart from the above benefits, project planning also upholds the integrity of the project manager and organization in meeting their commitments to clients, third parties, and other stakeholders. 

Conclusion  

Project planning is an integral part of any project life cycle especially when projects operate in non-traditional and VUCA environments that have so many components requiring attention. Planning is not just another stage of the project lifecycle but it is the most crucial and defining factor with far-reaching impacts and consequences. Developing a concrete project plan can be simple and easy for any project manager, but also complex and drawn out depending on the nature of the project. Not having a project plan will only lead to failure because there would be no clarity on business objectives or roles and responsibilities which form the crux of any project execution, monitoring, and control. 

Drafting a project plan involves exhaustive mapping and categorization of project objectives, schedules, activities, and resources to ensure things fall in the right place while executing the project. It is also imperative to note that projects have a larger impact on the organization as a whole. When planned thoroughly, projects engage efficiencies, save resources, reduce costs, improve ethos, and contribute to a positive environment. Project management in any organization always commences with project planning - if planning is focused and precise, the organization stands to gain wins with the project's success. Ace your career with world class courses and training from the experts - find out from our catalogue of KnowledgeHut’s courses for Project Managers today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The project manager is responsible for the project. They are the key personnel who plan the project, gather resources, align and manage activities, resources, and tasks throughout the project lifecycle. 

Project planning in project management helps identify activities, sequence them, create schedules, align milestones and most importantly identify and assess risks thereby helping in flagging items early in the cycle and minimize impact of risks or driving mitigation strategies to address risks. 

Project cost is an important component in the iron triangle of project management and project cost planning involves estimating, allocating and controlling project costs. Budgets planned and approved in project cost planning only can be used during project execution. 

Rohit Arjun Sambhwani

Rohit Arjun Sambhwani is an IT professional having over a decade and half of experience in various roles, domains & organizations, currently playing a leading role with a premier IT services organization. He is a post graduate in Information Technology and enjoys his free time learning new topics, project management, agile coaching, and writing apart from playing with his naughty little one Aryan

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• The Workstream
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• Project estimation

Project estimation: methods and best practices

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Accurate project estimates are the cornerstone of effective project management . They set realistic expectations, guide resource planning , and ultimately influence project success. 

Project estimates forecast the effort, duration, and cost required to complete a project, ensuring every team member knows what they’re responsible for and why. Accurate estimates also ensure smooth project planning, scheduling, and budgeting.

This article explores project estimation techniques for traditional and Agile methodologies and best practices for ensuring effective project estimation. From breaking down tasks to accounting for uncertainties, this guide offers the tools to make informed estimates and achieve predictable project outcomes.

What is project estimation?

Project estimation forecasts the resources, time, and costs required to complete a project. It involves analyzing available information, such as project scope , historical data, and industry benchmarks, alongside educated assumptions about potential risks and challenges. 

This process aims to create a realistic picture of the project's overall effort and expenditure. Effective project estimation methods allow project managers to set achievable deadlines, allocate resources, and inform decision-making throughout the project life cycle .

Why is it important to estimate a project?

Project estimation is a crucial foundation for successful project execution . Accurate estimates empower project managers to make informed resource allocation decisions. By understanding the anticipated workload, you can assign the right people to the right tasks at the right time, preventing the overallocation or underutilization of resources.

Realistic project estimates translate to workable schedules. Knowing the time necessary for each project phase helps managers establish achievable deadlines and milestones. This transparency fosters trust with stakeholders and mitigates the risk of missed deadlines or schedule overruns. 

Project estimation plays a crucial role in managing stakeholder expectations. By communicating realistic timelines and resource requirements upfront, stakeholders can make informed decisions to avoid potential disappointment or frustration with project progress.

Methods of project estimation

Project estimation methods are essential for accurately forecasting the time, costs, and resources needed for successful project completion. There are various project estimation methods, which we’ll discuss below.

Expert judgment

Expert judgment leverages the knowledge and experience of specialists in a specific field. Experts can be internal team members with deep domain knowledge or external consultants with proven expertise. Through consultations, interviews, or surveys, their insights help estimate project parameters such as duration, costs, and resource requirements. This approach allows teams to identify potential risks and challenges that might not be readily apparent from a purely data-driven approach.

Three-point estimation

Three-point estimating acknowledges the inherent uncertainty in project planning . It considers three possible scenarios for each task: optimistic (best-case), pessimistic (worst-case), and the most likely durations. By using a weighted average that incorporates these three estimates, this method provides a more comprehensive picture of potential project timelines. The most likely scenario is assigned the most weight. 

Optimistic and pessimistic estimates account for possible risks and ideal outcomes, helping project managers create more realistic timeframes that consider potential variations in task execution.

Analogous estimation

Analogous estimation leverages historical data from projects with similar tasks and deliverables to estimate the effort required for a new project. Analyzing past project data, such as time spent or resources allocated, lets project managers establish a baseline estimate for the new project. 

This approach can benefit projects with limited historical data or entirely new endeavors. Acknowledge and account for differences between the analogous and the current projects to ensure a reasonably accurate estimate.

Parametric estimation

Parametric estimation uses statistical relationships between historical data and project variables to forecast project effort. This method relies on established formulas or algorithms considering historical data points, such as project size (e.g., square footage for construction) or feature count (for software development). 

Parametric estimation can create estimates for parameters such as time, cost, and resources. This data-driven approach benefits projects with well-defined parameters and readily available information.

Bottom-up estimation

Bottom-up estimation breaks down the project into its smallest, most manageable components, known as work packages. Individually estimate each work package for its time, resource needs, and cost. Once you have estimates for all work packages, aggregate them to arrive at a total project estimate. 

This method offers high granularity and works well for projects with well-defined scopes and tasks. However, it can be time-consuming for complex projects and requires a clear understanding of the project breakdown structure.

Top-down estimation

Top-down estimation offers a quick and efficient way to generate a high-level project estimate. This method leverages existing knowledge, industry benchmarks, or expert opinions to establish a project timeframe and budget. It considers factors such as project size, historical data, or even analogous projects from different industries. 

While the initial estimates may have less detail than bottom-up approaches, they provide a valuable starting point for project planning. As the project progresses, refine top-down estimates through bottom-up estimation or expert judgment to better understand the project scope and resource requirements.

Factors influencing project estimation

Several key factors influence the accuracy of project estimates. A clearly defined project scope with well-understood deliverables forms the foundation for reliable estimates. Uncertainties around project requirements can lead to underestimations or scope creep . Resource availability also plays a critical role. Understanding the team's capacity and skill sets allows for realistic estimates of workload and task durations. 

Project complexity is another crucial factor. Highly intricate projects with numerous dependencies or novel technologies may require additional time for planning and execution, impacting initial estimates. External dependencies, such as reliance on third-party vendors or outside approvals, can introduce uncertainties and delays that you must factor into the estimation process. 

A comprehensive risk assessment is crucial. Identifying and evaluating potential risks allows for proactive mitigation strategies and adjustments to the initial estimates, increasing the likelihood of project success.

Best practices for effective project estimation

Refining project estimation skills hinges on implementing the following best practices: 

Clearly define the project scope . The project scope is the foundation for accurate estimates. Ambiguous requirements or last-minute changes can significantly impact the project timeline and resource allocation. 

Involve stakeholders . It’s vital to involve stakeholders throughout the estimation process. Their insights into project goals , user needs, and potential roadblocks can enrich the process. 

Use multiple techniques . Leveraging multiple techniques provides a more comprehensive view of potential project parameters. Combining bottom-up estimation for detailed tasks with expert judgment for unforeseen challenges allows project managers to create a more robust estimate. 

Document everything . Cataloging all assumptions made during the estimation process is crucial. These assumptions can serve as reference points as the project progresses, allowing for adjustments if necessary. 

Be flexible and check in frequently . Estimates are not set in stone. Update them regularly based on actual progress and emerging challenges. This ensures transparency and keeps project timelines and resource allocations on track.

Agile story points for project estimation

For Agile teams, Jira Story Points offers a flexible approach to project estimation. Unlike traditional time-based estimates, story points focus on the relative effort necessary to complete a user story. This method acknowledges the inherent uncertainty in Agile projects and prioritizes relative complexity over fixed durations.

Atlassian defines story points as a unit of measurement used to estimate the overall effort required to fully implement a product backlog item. Teams collaboratively assign story points to each user story during planning sessions, considering complexity, size, and risk.

Here's how Jira Story Points can enhance project estimation in your Agile workflow:

• Focus on effort, not time . Decoupling estimates from time allows for more flexibility in accommodating changes and scope creep, which are common occurrences in Agile projects.
• Use team-based estimation . Story point estimation sessions encourage collaboration and shared understanding among team members, fostering a sense of ownership and project buy-in.

Improve visibility . By tracking story points completed in each sprint, teams gain valuable insights into team velocity (the average amount of work completed per sprint). This data helps with future project planning and estimation.

Jira integrates seamlessly with story point estimation. Features such as planning boards visually represent user stories with their assigned story points. Jira burndown charts track progress throughout the sprint, allowing teams to monitor remaining work and identify potential roadblocks.

By embracing Jira Story Points, Agile teams can better understand the project scope and effort, leading to more predictable project outcomes.

Ensure accurate project estimation with Jira

Jira streamlines project estimation, increasing accuracy and improving the chances of project success. Here's how some of Jira's core functionalities can assist:

• Granular task tracking : Break the project into manageable tasks, estimate each task's duration, and track real-time progress. This allows for more accurate project estimates.
• Resource management : Visualize the team’s workload and skill sets. Understanding resource availability allows you to create estimates that consider the team’s capacity. It also helps avoid overallocation for more realistic project timelines.
• Reporting functionalities : Leverage Jira's reporting tools to gain insights from historical data. Analyze past project durations, resource allocation, and cost information to inform future estimates, improving overall project estimation accuracy.

Real-time visibility : Track project progress and identify potential roadblocks early on. Jira's real-time dashboards keep teams informed and invite adjustments to the initial estimates as needed. This proactive approach ensures the project stays on track and avoids deviations from the estimated timeline.

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Schedule Management: Process, Tools and Templates

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Timetables, deliverables, resources and even risks—everything that is involved with a project is wrapped up inside the schedule. Arguably one of the single most important aspects to any well-planned project, your schedule dictates which tasks need to be done when, and which resources will be allocated to complete those deliverables.

But as they say, even the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. It’s up to an extremely adept project manager to enact better schedule management plans for their teams. Let’s take a look at how that’s done.

What Is a Project Schedule?

A project schedule is a list of a project’s tasks, milestones, deliverables and resources with pre-determined beginning and end dates. Project schedules can be conceived from many places, but are primarily put together from a list of stakeholder requirements.

Project scheduling occurs during the planning phase of a project and shows how the tasks (and, ultimately, the entire project) will progress over the project timeline.

What Is Schedule Management?

Schedule management is a process used in project management to define project tasks and their duration, identify dependencies and assign resources to execute those tasks successfully. But schedule management doesn’t end in the planning phase.

Another aspect of schedule management is monitoring and reporting. As the project plan is being executed, project managers are tracking the actual progress of the project against the planned progress to ensure that the project continues to move forward on schedule and is delivered on time.

To get the most out of schedule management, project managers use project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has robust Gantt charts that organize tasks, add milestones, make assignments and more. Unlike other Gantt chart software, our tool can link all four types of task dependencies to avoid costly delays, filter for the critical path to identify essential tasks and set a baseline to track planned effort against actual effort in real time. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

What Is a Schedule Management Plan?

A schedule management plan is a document that explains how an organization or project management team will manage the process of creating a project schedule and tracking its progress throughout the life cycle of a project.

It includes all the schedule management guidelines and procedures, such as the project scheduling methodology, roles and responsibilities, project controls, metrics and contingency measures to implement.

Schedule Management Process

The schedule management process in project management involves defining, developing, monitoring and controlling a project’s schedule to ensure that it is completed on time and within budget. Follow these steps to do so.

1. Define the Scope of Your Project

Create a detailed outline of all the activities required to complete the project. This includes the project’s goals, deliverables, timelines, resources and boundaries. It also includes the main stakeholders and those responsible for each part of the project.

Once the project scope has been proved it’s called a scope baseline. This is documented in the scope statement. The scope baseline is used as a reference to monitor project progress and compare actual results against planned results.

2. Estimate the Duration of Each Task

To properly calculate your schedule, you’ll need to factor in all dependencies and estimate the time it will take to complete each task, as well as the project as a whole. It’s also important to consider non-work time, like company-wide holidays and paid time off so that no assumptions about employee’s time are made.

Of course, surprises will always come into play during any project, so manage these as early as you can. Is an employee going on an unexpected bereavement leave? You can embed this into your project timeline since you already gave yourself some wiggle room at the outset, and keep things functioning at optimal levels.

Then, once the tasks are complete, review the time it took to complete each task, note any surprises that came up along the way and address what steps were taken to manage those risks as they happened.

3. Make a Project Schedule

A project schedule is a planning tool that organizes tasks, resources and timelines to help ensure a project is completed on time. Tasks are plotted on a timeline, which includes milestones or important dates in the project, such as moving from one phase to another or a special deliverable.

Another part of making a schedule is identifying task dependencies, which are tasks that can’t start or end unless another task has started or ended. Resources also play a part in making a project schedule. Resources are anything from people and equipment to raw materials needed to execute the project .

A resource schedule is part of the larger project schedule and identifies and assigns resources to tasks. This resource allocation is done to ensure that resources aren’t overallocated or underutilized, but balanced.

Tools that help with scheduling include using a PERT chart, which stands for program evaluation review technique. It’s a visual tool that helps project managers organize, schedule and map out tasks for a project. Also helpful is the critical path method, which identifies the longest sequence of tasks that must be completed on time to finish a project.

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PERT Chart Template

Use this free PERT Chart Template for Excel to manage your projects better.

4. Identify the Critical Path of the Project Schedule

Your critical path is, well, critical. Charting it out will tell you the longest length of time needed to complete project tasks. It’s typically calculated automatically with project scheduling software, giving you a framework for understanding the least amount of time it will take to complete a task with the shortest amount of slack. This helps minimize risk and will serve to give you a good average or gauge against the actual realized time it takes to complete the given task.

To determine your critical path, you must complete the following:

• List all the tasks needed to complete the project
• Mark the duration of those tasks
• Collect your task dependencies and milestones, and list them out

Once these steps are complete, you can determine both the earliest project completion date as well as the latest project completion date so your stakeholders and team members can manage expectations properly.

Additionally, you can use this as a great tool to review the time it took to complete each task against critical path data, and see how your team members’ performances measure up.

5. Establish Schedule Controls

Schedule control is a process that involves reviewing and adjusting a project schedule to ensure it aligns with its objectives and baseline. When the schedule is first created and finished, before execution, a schedule baseline is created to capture that plan and compare it to actual progress to help keep the project on track. The difference between the project’s planned progress and its actual progress is called the schedule variance (SV). The schedule performance index (SPI) is a metric that measures how efficient a project’s schedule is by comparing the progress made to the progress that was expected. It can be used as another schedule control.

6. Establish a Change Control Procedure

A change control procedure is a process that evaluates and manages project changes to ensure that they align with the project needs. It’s a structured method for evaluating, approving and managing proposed changes, which are filed as change order requests. The change order request and approval process can be managed by a change control board or the project manager to process proposed changes to a project’s scope, schedule or budget. This process is documented, assessed for impact and implemented in a controlled manner with stakeholder approval.

7. Define What Project Time Tracking Tools will Be Utilized

To ensure that the project is progressing as planned, schedule management requires using a variety of tools. The following are some common project management tools used to track project schedules.

• Project Crashing: This project scheduling compression technique involves adding more resources, working longer hours and making other changes to the original project baseline. Project crashing can lead to budget overruns and there are not always extra resources available. There can also be a point of diminishing returns where adding more resources doesn’t speed up a task, but it’s needed in certain cases when meeting contractual obligations, for example.
• Fast Tracking: Use to overlap or eliminate phases, starting work on multiple aspects of the project at once, which cuts non-essential steps. Fast-tracking can be used without adding resources or changing scope. However, overlapping too many tasks can lead to confusion and mistakes.

Gantt Chart Template

Download a free Gantt chart template for Excel for better schedule management. The free Gantt chart template is divided into two sides, with one a spreadsheet and the other a timeline.

On the left side, list all tasks and start and end dates. These will then automatically populate the right side with the timeline. Each taskbar will be the length of that task’s duration. The timeline can also be color-coded to distinguish between project phases .

3 Key Schedule Management Tips

There are many ways to create a project schedule, but creating and managing a good project schedule takes calculation, time, strategy and collaboration. Let’s take a look at some tips on managing a solid project schedule .

1. Never Manage Your Project Schedule in a Silo

When managing your project schedule, always review the timeline with your stakeholders and team members at each milestone, so you can make sure that expectations on project completion are realistic and team members are confident in meeting the demand.

Whether it’s a fully detailed project schedule or a master schedule with a basic list of tasks, your timeline is the fundamental piece that will make the project go smoothly. Keeping an open line of communication on many ends will not only lessen risk but will ensure a seamless project process.

2. Determine and Manage Your Task Dependencies

If one task can’t be completed without another task also being completed, that’s called a dependency. Determining these off the bat and including them in your project schedule will help minimize risk and ensure that each task can be performed effectively with minimal roadblocks and need for management down the road.

Managing them thereafter means ensuring that every dependency has been marked off the list before another task has started. By keeping an open-door policy with your team members, you can make sure that no surprise dependencies have cropped up as the project progresses . Even if a dependency has suddenly come into play, you can ensure that it fits into the project timeline with ease by better managing an already-streamlined schedule.

3. Identify Scheduling Assumptions and Constraints

This part is easy to do and is also extremely important. To identify your assumptions, start by looking at your constraints. Your constraints are often identified by the time, budget and scope of any project, so your assumptions are usually in one of those three categories. Knowing what your assumptions are ahead of time will help you to better understand and mitigate project risk and deal with the potential impact of a risk coming to light.

Assumptions can include things like:

• Assuming your team will be completed with the project in a month
• Assuming none of your team members will be taking vacation days
• Assuming the team members will only cost a certain portion of the budget

Identify these and you’ll be able to do a better job at mitigating risk and getting a grip on your schedule. Using a RAID log is one effective way to document project assumptions throughout its execution.

More Free Schedule Management Templates

There are over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that cover every phase of a project across multiple industries. Below are a few free templates to help with schedule management.

Critical Path Template

Use this free critical path template to help with project scheduling. This network diagram is ideal for complicated project timelines. It gives project managers insight into prioritizing tasks and project duration.

Pert Chart Template

A PERT chart breaks down each task in a project schedule to help project managers analyze them. This free PERT chart template for Excel, for example, can help identify dependent tasks.

Project Task Tracker Template

Keeping track of project tasks helps deliver projects on time. Use this free project task tracker template for Excel to follow a task as it moves through its life cycle, from planning to scheduling, executing and completion.

How ProjectManager Helps with Schedule Management

Getting control over your schedules is no easy feat, but it does help if you already have a highly organized schedule in place at the outset.

With ProjectManager , you can say goodbye to stiff MS Project and hello to our online interactive Gantt charts. This planning tool will help you build schedules along with their dependencies, track project progress and better collaborate with others across the board. You can import MS Project plans, too.

Sometimes, all it takes is having a little extra assurance that your project is functioning at optimal levels. With ProjectManager, you’ll get real-time dashboard tools that help you monitor tasks, teams, costs, scope and more so you can instantly see how your project is doing.

Meeting with stakeholders and need to show them how everything is progressing? Our reports are fully customizable to get you the data you need. Plus, you can calculate planned versus actual progress across individuals, tasks and projects so your critical path is completely measurable.

Risks and surprises can make for sub-optimal project progress and throw your whole team off course. With ProjectManager , give your stakeholders and team members the software they need to collaborate effectively, report project issues and updates and make sure all dependencies are taken care of no matter what. Sign up for our free 30-day trial today.

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Start planning your projects.

September 9, 2024 Posted by Pat Tully

How to Implement a PIM System: The Ultimate Guide

PIM serves as a central repository for all your product content and can assist in improving the quality of your product data, enhancing team communication, increasing sales, improving customer experience, and dramatically increasing return on investment. Now that you know the advantages of product information management, it’s time to learn about effectively implementing PIM system in the following details.

Sr. Content Marketing Manager

Prepare for PIM Implementation

Product information management, or PIM, is becoming more and more popular among sales and marketing companies as a way to enhance the customer experience with products, optimize workflows for product data management, and boost output. PIM design is a strong technology that may improve internal processes as well as increase sales and decrease product returns, but it’s crucial to use it correctly from the beginning.

To fully reap the benefits of PIM, you must prioritize not just selecting the best solution to suit your business goals, but also ensuring that it is implemented well throughout your entire organization and system orientation.

PIM Implementation Plan

There are just a handful of the opportunities made possible by a Product Information Management (PIM) system, of which many firms are already aware. But if the PIM connection is not done right, your product data gathering could stay inconsistent, erroneous, and useless. A well-organized PIM implementation procedure can help with many organizational benefits.

Every successful PIM deployment process includes data modeling, data checks, and KPI establishment. Also, there is the migration of data attributes, integration with other software, and setup. Proper implementation of PIM enables manufacturers, retailers, and brands to fully realize the potential of their product data. A PIM converts fragmented information into ready-to-go, reliable data for cohesive omnichannel experiences.

Entire organizational support and participation are crucial prerequisites for a successful PIM deployment.

The entire organization must support implementing a system intended to centralize product data for use by all. This entails reaching a consensus on the solution with important department heads. In turn, you ensure that executives recognize its benefits. In addition, it helps to create documentation for staff members detailing how it will be used and implemented.

How to Implement PIM

To make sure you know exactly how to implement product information management, include these steps in the PIM integration process:

Configuration

In the configuration process, you and the PIM vendor work together to customize the process and system to meet your unique needs. This entails laying out the data flow, the sources it will come from, and the authorized users who can access and edit it.

This is the time to gather all of the product information that is stored in your business files and systems and move it to your PIM. This includes mapping the data to the appropriate fields in the PIM, transferring the data, conducting a final quality assessment, and conducting a thorough audit of the current data.

Integration

This step synchronizes and prepares the data to be migrated and mapped. Consequently, you allow the PIM software to serve as the single source of truth for all systems. To make sure the PIM system meets the objectives of the business, extensive system testing is conducted at this point.

Measurement

Establishing KPIs to gauge the PIM’s effectiveness is another crucial step in a successful PIM integration. To determine the ongoing value that PIM is providing to your company, you will choose what metrics to compare against your goals and objectives.

Data Modeling

Every manufacturer, retailer, and brand has different requirements for the structure of a PIM data modeling phase. During this stage, PIM implementation is tailored to your unique product data and your plans to expand it as your firm grows.

PIM Implementation Methodology

A great PIM implementation methodology offers a comprehensive solution to companies of all sizes, operating iteratively with the following steps:

Planning : The client’s team and PIM experts work together during the planning stage of PIM deployment. During this phase, PIM experts schedule the tasks, create targets, and set deadlines. At the same time, they identify dependencies, data inaccuracies, and data inconsistencies that could impede the process.

Environment Setup: This process oversees email and inter-server connectivity, source control, code deployment, backups, data taxonomy, and other necessities. The ERP production environment and database code configuration changes may be easily tracked with this setup.

Requirement Gathering: This phase produces important papers like UAT test cases, integration specifications, and data model definitions.

Solution Design: In this phase of the PIM implementation, data mapping, work rules, and other project-specific modifications are included.

Solution Build: At this point, the PIM system is configured and tailored to the requirements of the client. Portable data migration samples are now essential resources for adding digital assets to the PIM system.

QA and End-to-End Testing: Performance, working, and integration testing are all included, and the resolution process is effectively managed with tracking tools in this part.

Data Conversion: Digital assets, reference data, and datasets are prepared and migrated into the PIM system.

Training : To ensure optimal usage of the PIM implementation, PIM experts provide thorough training to all users and project participants.

Hypercare : This ensures a successful PIM installation, with bug repairs, data cleanup processes, and user training.

Here is an example of an implementation process where the example brand is also leveraging Azure. Here, we’ve provided a step-by-step tutorial guide on how brands utilizing Azure can easily implement a PIM solution:

1.     Configuring PIM in Azure AD

To configure successful PIM implementation for the first time, you will require Global Admin privileges in Microsoft Azure. You will need a permit to utilize PIM when you first configure it for data migration. The Azure Portal will verify your tenant’s status when you go to Privileged Identity Management > Consent to PIM. After that, you can click the Consent button to start the procedure.

2.     Protecting Privileged Azure AD Roles

Click the Signup button to register for Azure AD Privileged Identity Management for Azure AD Directory Roles. Once the integration between PIM and Azure AD Directory Roles has been enabled, you can begin setting up the service for the Office 365 Admin Roles.

A different view, Group > Role view, allows all Role Groups to be inspected collectively inside Azure AD Privileged Access Management > Azure AD Roles > Members.

In addition to simply requiring users to activate their access when required, you can apply additional protection such as enforcing  MFA . To configure these settings, navigate to  Azure AD Privileged Access Management > Azure AD Roles > Settings.  From the main window select  Roles  and then the role you are looking to configure settings for, i.e. Exchange Administrator. From here you can select the following:

• Activation duration : Customize the length of time the activation of administrative roles lasts. The default duration is 1 hour but can be increased up to 72 hours.
• Notifications : Enable email notifications to members of the Privileged Role Administrator and Security Administrator groups when a user activates the admin role.
• Incident/Request ticket : Require users to provide a ticket/request number aligned with their requirement for the admin role.
• Multi-Factor Authentication : Require users to provide MFA after activating the role.
• Require Approval : Specifies whether a member of the Privileged Role Administrators or Security Administrators group is required to approve the activation.

Best Practices

These three best practices for successfully implementing PIM might help you decide whether to adopt a new PIM solution or learn how to implement a PIM for the first time.

Assign the PIM Project

To ensure that all of your business requirements are effectively communicated, your organization must create a PIM team. Assigning roles to team members based on project complexity, IT, and master data competency is necessary.

You will be connected as a user with your PIM Implementation Manager. This individual is in charge of the project architect to guarantee a smooth onboarding process and ensure compliance with the data governance policy. Even if a PIM provider can aid in a seamless system rollout, your staff has the most up-to-date knowledge of your business’s procedures.

Define the Project Scope

Making a data model ought to be the first step in the onboarding procedure of implementing product information management. The product data, its characteristics, and the intended catalog structure are all included in and explicitly defined in the data model. You may see a comprehensive picture of all the data that is pertinent to your business with the help of the visual depiction of your product data.

To ensure the PIM provider fulfills your business objectives, all the details of the data model and business structure should be covered in a meeting. As an alternative, you might send in a Request for Proposal with all of the details

Test the PIM Software

When implementing the PIM system and connecting different sales channels, you can use a selection of tools in PIM. These tools analyze and improve your product data synchronization, which will make your team’s work easier. Once completed, the PIM team in your company will have access to the test environment.

Now that the job has been finished, the team may check to ensure the data is organized to support the company’s goals. Your team alone determines when the tests will take place. It’s crucial to remember that the PIM provider will most likely hold initial training sessions for your team so that everyone is fully prepared for the testing environment.

PIM Implementation Guide

You might run into issues with data inconsistencies, onboarding users who are not technical, and managing the several stakeholders engaged in the process when using PIM. You may overcome these obstacles and ensure a successful PIM installation by collaborating closely with PIM system implementation partners.

When you implement product information management plan and select the appropriate PIM implementation solution, you may greatly improve your product data management, increasing sales and improving return on investment. Consider that since every company is different, the PIM implementation procedure will vary according to your particular requirements and objectives. Take this guidance as an introduction and modify it to fit your needs and those of your business.

Bottom line

Product information management implementation is helpful for the expansion of the business in all directions, facilitates flawless process execution, helps business managers overcome conventional obstacles, and permits the successful application of cutting-edge technology and contemporary business practices. PIM Implementation Plan is a component of managing products & business with comfort and excellence. Contact us at Pimberly , to avail the best PIM system in town.

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The Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program is a competitive program that provides funding to states, federally recognized Tribal governments, U.S. territories, and local governments. Since the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 was signed into law, funds are used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the  National Flood Insurance Program .

See how the Flood Mitigation Assistance program is transforming people's lives:

Success Story: Flood Resilience and Recovery in Missouri's Flood Environment

FEMA chooses recipients based on the applicant’s ranking of the project, eligibility, and cost-effectiveness of the project.

FEMA requires state, local, federally recognized Tribal governments, and U.S. territories to develop and adopt  hazard mitigation plans  as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for  hazard mitigation assistance  projects. For more information, refer to the  Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance .

Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Opportunities for the BRIC and Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs

On Oct. 12, 2023, FEMA published the fiscal year 2023 funding opportunities for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant programs, totaling $1.8 billion.

For this grant application cycle, BRIC’s available funding is $1 billion, and for Flood Mitigation Assistance, the available funding is $800 million. These funds will help state, local, tribal and territorial governments address high-level future risks to natural disasters, foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster suffering.

Competitive Selections: Project Overviews

Flood Mitigation Assistance competitive selections focus on reducing or eliminating the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and with NFIP-participating communities.

FEMA published project overviews for all program competitive selections to provide comprehensive summaries and details showcasing our commitment to enhancing community resilience against flooding.

Learn more about these projects.

Previous fiscal years’ subapplications’ and selections status for the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program are available here .

Before You Apply

Learn about available funding; who can apply; what types of activities can be funded; and what to expect when you apply.

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Understand your application status, the appeal process and how to manage your award.

When You Apply

Get important application dates. Find resources to navigate FEMA GO. Learn what must be included in applications.

Swift Current

Learn more about FEMA’s disaster effort that distributes funding in alignment with the survivor experience.

• Check the status of all Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program subapplications submitted and selected in fiscal year 2022 .  
• The Flood Mitigation Assistance Competitive Selections Project Overviews resource provides details on selected projects since 2020.
• See our Resource List for Flood Mitigation Assistance . Use these resources to understand project requirements and types, how area maps are created, and more.
• The Mitigation Action Portfolio provides details and examples of the types of activities that may be funded. Download this template to submit your own project to the portfolio.
• Nature-Based Solutions: A Guide for Local Communities (2021) lays out the business case for nature-based solutions. It also offers advice for planning and carrying them out.

FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO)

For grants issued in Fiscal Year 2020 and later , please use the FEMA GO system, which is now the management system for FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grants.

FMA grants are managed using the FEMA GO Portal . Visit FEMA GO Templates and Resources to learn more.

eGrants System

For grants issued in Fiscal Year 2019 or earlier , please use the Mitigation eGrants system to manage your existing grant. You can visit the Mitigation eGrants Resource Collection for reference guides, frequently asked questions and job aids to help manage your existing grant.

For assistance with the eGrants system, send an email or call (855) 228-3362.

Resources for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program

Find resources to support Capability and Capacity Building Activities, Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects, Individual Flood Mitigation Projects, geospatial file requirements and more.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Webinars

See videos, slide decks and other materials from the 2023 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Webinars. This provides technical information, best practices, tools, and resources for the HMA grant programs.

FY 2022 Subapplication and Selection Status

Check the status of fiscal year 2022 subapplications for the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program. This grant cycle saw $800 million made available and FEMA received 230 subapplications totaling nearly $980 million in federal share requests.

Read this fact sheet to learn about other programs available under Hazard Mitigation Assistance.

News and Announcements

FEMA released the Flood Mitigation Assistance  Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)  on Aug. 9, 2021. The selections for further review for the $160 million in available funding were announced in August 2022.