Creating the WorkPlan

1. As a rule of thumb

• Defines what will be accomplished
• Defines responsibilities for deliverables and tasks
• Defines who will be involved in the project
• Provides a road map for project execution
• Provides checkpoints to evaluate project status
• Helps in developing better time and cost estimates

2.Tips

• Incorporate all aspects of the projects(Conversions,Testing, Training, Transition to Production, Production Support)
• Include customer Resource and task steps
• Include Contingency
• Patrol - Tracking of Actuals against Baseline as a weekly routine

3. You must enter

• Task and Durations
• Dependencies
• Assignment of Resources to EVERY task
• Task and Resource Estimates

4. Get Agreement with the team leaders as to

• necessity for each task
• the approach
• the resources required
• the schedule
• the duration
• the dependencies
• the definition of "DONE"

5. Mandatory rules for the workplan

• Resources must be leveled to max. of 40 hrs per week
• Task estimates must no be greater that 40 hrs
• Every task must have an estimate and resources assigned
• All known Public Holidays, training, leave should be scheduled
• Setup project calendar & resource calendars if required
• Dependencies must be valid and included

6.Don't forget

• Task and time for 
• Reviews, Audit and Healthchecks
• Warranty/Support sold in the proposal
• Time for meetings, reviews, management overhead
• Deliverables and assignments
• Add work effort to mitigate some risk items

7. Signing off the workplan

• Get Sign-Off for Baseline Workplan within 4 weeks-from the practice first, from the client last
• Keep all versions of your workplan

7. The plan should show at all times

• A picture of the route to be tasked by the project. and should show AT ALL TIME:
• Phases
• Activities
• Tasks
• Dependencies between tasks
• Milestones
• Resources allocated to Tasks

8. Key Focus Area's

• Are resources fully utilized to the maximum ?
• What is the current variance against budget(days/dollars) ?
• what is the current schedule .vs. agreed milestones ?
• Is your Critical Path realistic ?
• Is your resource mix maximizing profit and chance of success whilst containing risk ?
• Do you have any work at risk ?

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• Communication & Reporting
• Manage the progress of the project