6 Planning Management Questions

• What is our objective/goals?
• What are our requirements?
• What are the tasks needed to complete the project?
• How long will each task take us?
• Who will work on the task?
• What risks could we encounter that can interfere with our schedule?
• What is our objective/goals?

What is our objective/goals?
Before planning, clearly identify what you want to accomplish. So many times project managers get carried away planning their project that they forget to ask themselves – what is the problem? What is the goal they are trying to achieve?

What are our requirements?
Identify your requirements at the same time identify your constraints.In construction projects, it can be making sure that your building abides by city by laws. In software projects, it can be identifying and ensure your product runs smoothly on the personal computer.

What are the tasks needed to complete the project?
Break down your design into small tasks and identify how many tasks are needed to complete your project. Identify any dependencies associated with the tasks.

How long will each task take us?
Now that you have identified the tasks needed to complete the project, take a look at each one and estimate the time required to complete them. Start from the first task and work your way down. Sit down with your team members or technical expert (for technical project) and check to make sure that the estimates are realistic.

Who will work on the task?
Have the right individuals in your team. What I mean is have members that not only can work on the project but have the right set of skills required to get the job done. This can help you in achieve success in your project.

What risks could we encounter that can interfere with our schedule?
After you have identified the tasks, ask yourself what problems could you potentially encounter and which of those can interfere with your schedule/timeline. Identify them and remove them from your project’s path.