![\"plan\"](\"https:\/\/svapm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/plan-186x125-custom.jpg\")
So, you\u2019ve met your stakeholders and gotten their support. Everyone agrees on the size of the breadbox. Details are needed, but those will be identified during requirements gathering. How do you plan to pursue the project? Should you draft a plan on your own since your team is brand new and they don\u2019t know any better? Should you meet with a few key players to put together a plan? Should you reuse a previous project plan with some modifications?<\/p>\n
While all of these approaches work, one that I have found to be very effective is one I\u2019ve described previously on this forum, what Intel calls \u201cMap Days\u201d. I will discuss some of the highlights here and provide some updates on successes. For prior entries, see \u201cHow do we communicate PM\u2019s Intent<\/a>\u201d, and \u201cWhat Happens During a Map Day<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n Map Day, as documented in Timm Esque\u2019s No Surprises Project Management<\/a><\/em>, is a face-to-face meeting where all participants of a project (ideally) meet to develop a plan. Starting with the customer or customer representatives, deliverables are presented, discussed, and posted on a \u201cmap\u201d (a timeline of deliverables). \u201cSupplier\u201d teams then present their own deliverables, following similar discussions. Once every team has presented their deliverables as well as any they expect from other teams, the group as a whole reviews the deliverables maps, makes adjustments, and commits to dates.<\/p>\n This is a highly simplified description of the process which I teach through PMI SV<\/a>. Check their calendar for future sessions (next one will probably take place on April 17, 2009). There is some additional guidance as to how far you commit as well as guidance on how to monitor and control execution (I\u2019ve talked about execution in a prior blog \u201cHow do we track progress after a map day?<\/a>\u201d) and will discuss further in the future. Or refer to Timm\u2019s book.<\/p>\n Since the publication of the prior blogs on this approach, it has been successfully applied in 5 or 6 projects at my prior employer. I have consulted on its use with an organization planning a mechanical engineering project and I\u2019m in discussions with other organizations on its use. It is proven to be useful not just in its original application areas, semiconductor chips and software, but in other areas as well.<\/p>\n In addition, the controlling spreadsheet continues to be refined to add more capabilities. One new capability in the works is the calculation of Earned Value indices (Schedule Performance Index and Cost Performance Index) provided the forecasted and actual costs are provided to the spreadsheet. Other capabilities plus more automation are being contemplated.<\/p>\n