For Training & Development/ Learning/ Knowledge Management Project Management
The Detailed Project Plan
by
President, EPPIC Inc.
This article was originally published in Svenson & Wallace, Inc.’s Management Update newsletter, summer 1992.
Introduction
I believe that trainers need to plan well enough to help ensure that a training project meets all of the internal training organization’s and external customer’s criteria. However, many trainers resist developing plans detailing their projects. The rationale? The plan is too subject to change to be worth the effort of planning at a detailed level.
My personal view is that most (not all) Project Plans that are subject to many changes were probably not very good plans in the first place. Or, if they were good training Project Plans, they were poorly sold to the customer, and changes occurred because they were not the customer’splan as well.
It’s fact that many trainers either avoid making detailed plans or making any plans at all. However, I believe in detailed planning because the process forces me to think through
• All of the key tasks required
• The prerequisite activities for key tasks
• The key outputs/deliverables
These are critical for the planning process.
With a good plan, I can better anticipate potential issues and problems. I can build strategies and tactics right into the plan to preemptively deal with those issues and problems. My Project Plan is critical for spelling out the details of the intended project—all the whats, whens, wheres, whos, and whys.
Most trainers are able to conduct a detailed task analysis; they should very easily be able to construct a detailed list of tasks to conduct one of their own projects. A trainer could even pretend to be conducting a task analysis exercise on him- or herself, being both interviewer and interviewee.
A Detailed (Enough) Project Plan
What is a detailed plan good for? It can
• Provide direction to all personnel involved in the project, including the customer’s personnel.
• Allow tracking of the planned schedule and costs in close to real time.
• Help the project get back on track if something starts to derail it.
Most importantly, if approached correctly the planning process can be used to get customer buy-in. The best way to do this is to create a rough draft of the plan after obtaining the customer’s input.
Let the customer review and edit the plan. Let the customer own the plan. We should think of the project as the customer’s project and ourselves as implementers of the project.
Eight Sections of a Detailed Project Plan
The Project Plan should contain the information described in the eight sections below. The content can be organized and presented in many different manners, but plans containing this kind of detail have served us well as we’ve completed training projects over the years.
Figure 1: The Eight Sections of a Detailed Project Plan
1. Purpose
This section deals with the what of the project. It presents a very short statement reflecting the ultimate end objective(s) for the project, expressed in a manner such as, “The purpose of the proposed project is to . . . (fill in the blank).”
2. Background
This section expands on the rationale for conducting the project, the why. Why this project, why now, why for this target audience(s), etc.? This section usually ties the project to the business conditions and initiatives driving the project.
3. Scope
This section identifies the who of the project, the target audience(s) that will be addressed. It also establishes the breadth and width of the project, including the project boundaries. The scope must be well understood early in the project so as not to create false expectations.
It is vital that this section of the plan be easily understood by all customer segments (including executive management). Poorly managed customer expectations at this early stage almost certainly guarantee disappointments at the end of the project.
4. Approach
This section outlines the various methodologies and mechanics to be employed in conducting the project. What is the general or primary method to be used? What are the secondary methods? How will these methods be used—for data gathering, data reviews, design efforts, design reviews, etc.? If you intend to use surveys, individual interviews, group-process interviews, document reviews, and so forth, spell those out here. Use this section to avoid surprises as to how you conduct the project.
5. Project Phases and Milestones
This section provides an overview of the phases and milestones used in the Project Plan. We use the six phases for our adaptation of ADDIE, MCD – Modular Curriculum Development/Acquisition - shown in the diagram below.
Figure 2: Project Phases (Section 5)
Shown in this way, it’s apparent that we’re dealing with a process. Our detailed plans are one way we maintain control over the course development process, specifically control over
• Quality
• Cost
• Schedule
In fact, we use detailed plans in all our projects, not just for training development projects.
6. Outputs/Deliverables
This section outlines the specific, key outputs to be produced during the project. A detailed description of each output should be included. The use of the output during the project and after the project should be spelled out.
7. Roles and Responsibilities
This section presents the roles and corresponding responsibilities for all groups or teams involved in the project. Typical roles and responsibilities are shown in the sample page for Section 8 on the following page. (Of course, not all projects are organized by group or team. In those cases, the roles would be changed and the responsibilities assigned to other individuals or parties.)
8. Project Tasks/Roles/Schedule
For all project phases, this section presents the project tasks, estimated time requirements per role, and the estimated schedule for tasks. A sample page from this section is shown below.
Figure 3: Sample Page, Plan Section 8
Is Detailed Planning for You?
My clients have told me that my planning process is one of the things that differentiates us from other consulting and training organizations. In fact, some clients have adapted this approach and format for their own use.
In my experience, the detailed Project Plan serves trainers well. It can help trainers and customers alike come to a clear, consensus view of the project and its intent.
What's Enough?
Can your plan be too detailed? What is "enough" detail?
That you'll have to experiment with to determine what is enough or not enough in your context.
As always - it depends.
My advice? Plan for the details. Plan for execution. Plan for success.
For additional resources go to:
http://pursuingperformanceblog.blogspot.com
http://thepactwiki.wikispaces.com
This approach to planning is also covered in my book: lean-ISD - which is available as both a hardbound and Kindle book at Amazon.com - and as a free 404-page PDF at www.eppic.biz
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