Course / Module 3
Module 3

Project Planning

Master comprehensive project planning including WBS, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management. Learn the critical path method, earned value concepts, and integration techniques.

68 minutes of comprehensive content!

8 complete lessons covering all aspects of project planning

Lessons

Video Lesson
7 min
Lesson 1: Introduction to Planning
Discover why planning is critical to project success and learn the key components of effective project planning.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Planning isn't overhead - it's the work that makes all other work effective
  • • One week of inadequate planning can cost months of delay and massive budget overruns
  • • The Project Management Plan integrates nine subsidiary plans covering all project aspects
  • • Progressive elaboration means planning in waves - detail near-term, high-level for distant future
  • • Common anti-patterns include analysis paralysis, optimistic schedules, and one-time plans never updated
Video Lesson
9 min
Lesson 2: Work Breakdown Structure
Master the WBS - the foundation of all project planning - and learn to decompose project scope systematically.

What You'll Learn:

  • • The WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of all project work - your project's Rosetta Stone
  • • The 100% rule ensures the WBS includes everything in scope and nothing out of scope
  • • Decompose until you reach work packages that can be estimated, assigned, and tracked
  • • Focus on deliverables (nouns) not activities (verbs) in the WBS structure
  • • The WBS dictionary provides detailed descriptions for each WBS element
Video Lesson
10 min
Lesson 3: Activity Sequencing
Learn to identify task dependencies and sequence project activities logically using network diagrams.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Activity sequencing determines the logical order in which work must be performed
  • • Mandatory dependencies are inherent to the work; discretionary are based on best practices or preference
  • • Finish-to-start is the most common relationship (one task must finish before the next starts)
  • • External dependencies on parties outside your control require special attention and risk management
  • • Leads allow acceleration; lags build in required waiting time between activities
Video Lesson
11 min
Lesson 4: Estimating Duration
Master estimation techniques to predict how long activities will take, including three-point estimation and PERT.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Effort is total work hours needed; duration is elapsed calendar time accounting for availability
  • • Analogous estimating is fast but less accurate; parametric is more accurate with good historical data
  • • Three-point estimation uses optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic scenarios
  • • PERT formula: Expected Duration = (Optimistic + 4×Most Likely + Pessimistic) ÷ 6
  • • People tend to be optimistic in estimates - build in buffers for realistic schedules
Video Lesson
9 min
Lesson 5: Critical Path Method
Calculate the critical path to identify which activities determine your project duration and where you have flexibility.

What You'll Learn:

  • • The critical path is the longest path through the network - it determines minimum project duration
  • • Activities on the critical path have zero float - any delay directly delays the project
  • • Forward pass calculates the earliest dates activities can start and finish
  • • Backward pass calculates the latest dates activities can occur without delaying the project
  • • Float (slack) is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without impacting the project
Video Lesson
7 min
Lesson 6: Budget Development
Learn to estimate costs, aggregate budgets, and establish cost baselines with appropriate contingency reserves.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Bottom-up estimating is most accurate but time-intensive; aggregate work package estimates to total
  • • The cost baseline is the approved time-phased budget used for performance measurement
  • • Contingency reserves (typically 5-10%) cover identified risks; management reserves cover unknowns
  • • Time-phased budgets show not just total cost but when money will be spent
  • • Direct costs are attributable to the project; indirect costs are shared across projects
Video Lesson
8 min
Lesson 7: Risk Management Planning
Identify, analyze, and plan responses to project risks to minimize threats and maximize opportunities.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Risks are future uncertain events; issues are current problems requiring immediate action
  • • Risk management is proactive - identify and address risks before they become issues
  • • Qualitative analysis prioritizes risks based on probability and impact
  • • Not all risks require response plans - accept low-priority risks and focus on high-priority ones
  • • Risk responses should be cost-effective - don't spend more mitigating than the risk impact
Video Lesson
7 min
Lesson 8: Communication, Quality & Integration
Complete your project plan with communication strategies, quality standards, and integrated plan approval.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Communication plans prevent information gaps and overload by tailoring messages to audiences
  • • Quality planning defines "done" - clear acceptance criteria prevent rework and disputes
  • • All subsidiary plans must integrate into a coherent, consistent Project Management Plan
  • • Plan approval secures stakeholder commitment to the approach, schedule, and budget
  • • Planning doesn't end when execution begins - plans must be maintained and updated