Milestone Planning - tutorial

How to plan to deliver results that are fit for purpose

Course benefits:

In many projects, planning is a process that seeks to identify and describe the tasks to be done forgetting perhaps that these tasks are simply a means to an end. This task orientation leads to plans that are out of date almost as soon as they are created placing an unacceptable burden on someone to keep them up-to-date. The time spent updating the plan is time that cannot be spent managing the project and in the worse case the project may be out of control before anyone, least of all the project manager, knows it has happened. Not surprisingly, these projects then deliver (if they deliver anything at all) products and outcomes that are simply not suitable for the purpose intended.

Effective planning requires a concentration on what is to be delivered, but this requires a change in the mindset of those who develop the plans.

This tutorial introduces the results-based 'milestone planning' technique. This technique ensures that products are concrete and visible meaning that control can be exercised more effectively. The benefits to the organisation are tighter and more visible control and for the team and team members, visible and tangible progress leading to fewer setbacks and greater satisfaction from a job well done.

Who should attend:

Anyone who has responsibility for planning their own work and the work of others or who gets involved in reviewing the plans prepared by their colleagues.

Content:

Introduction - writing plans that stay the course; planning for results versus planning for activity; planning for consensus

Using milestones to shape a project - outlining a project as a set of milestones; planning to minimise risk; planning for fitness-for-purpose

How to describe a milestone - identifying end products; identifying who will sign off an end product; describing end products: features, qualities and constraints; identifying tasks and quality assurance tasks

Duration:

Half day, in-house only.