The purpose of Project Planning (PP) is to establish and maintain plans that define project activities.

The Project Planning process area involves the following:

·   Developing the project plan

·   Interacting with stakeholders appropriately

·   Getting commitment to the plan

·   Maintaining the plan

Planning begins with requirements that define the product and project.

Planning includes estimating the attributes of the work products and tasks, determining the resources needed, negotiating commitments, producing a schedule, and identifying and analyzing project risks. Iterating through these activities may be necessary to establish the project plan. The project plan provides the basis for performing and controlling the project’s activities that address the commitments with the project’s customer.

The project plan will usually need to be revised as the project progresses to address changes in requirements and commitments, inaccurate estimates, corrective actions, and process changes. Specific practices describing both planning and replanning are contained in this process area.

The term “project plan” is used throughout the generic and specific practices in this process area to refer to the overall plan for controlling the project.

Refer to the Requirements Development process area for more information about developing requirements that define the product and product components. Product and product component requirements and changes to those requirements serve as a basis for planning and replanning.

Refer to the Requirements Management process area for more information about managing requirements needed for planning and replanning.

Refer to the Risk Management process area for more information about identifying and managing risks.

Refer to the Technical Solution process area for more information about transforming requirements into product and product component solutions.

Specific Goal and Practice Summary

SG 1 Establish Estimates

SP 1.1       Estimate the Scope of the Project

SP 1.2       Establish Estimates of Work Product and Task Attributes

SP 1.3       Define Project Lifecycle

SP 1.4       Determine Estimates of Effort and Cost

SG 2 Develop a Project Plan

SP 2.1       Establish the Budget and Schedule

SP 2.2       Identify Project Risks

SP 2.3       Plan for Data Management

SP 2.4       Plan for Project Resources

SP 2.5       Plan for Needed Knowledge and Skills

SP 2.6       Plan Stakeholder Involvement

SP 2.7       Establish the Project Plan

SG 3 Obtain Commitment to the Plan

SP 3.1       Review Plans That Affect the Project

SP 3.2       Reconcile Work and Resource Levels

SP 3.3       Obtain Plan Commitment