Planning - My Top 10 - Planning Basics

1. Set out a structure or hierarchy of the scope into logical bits of work. Eg. Formwork, Rebar, concrete (for physical works). However you (the planner) think that the scope is best shown for the rest of the steps to flow. Planners & schedulers refer to this as the WBS, but lets not complicate this yet.

2. List the main activities that 'build' the components in your mind and just list the steps. Relationships, durations, calendars or anything else all come later.... just get the steps listed in order. You can do this on paper, whiteboard or in a spreadsheet. Your choice.

3. Link the tasks together the tasks to make sequences or 'activity chains'. Consider physical constraints, rather than sequences of crews or equipment (resources).

4. Estimate durations. It’ll be approximate and most likely incorrect, but you need a starting point.

5. Add critical resources to relevant activities. I focus on resources that are in short supply but high demand. Are there equipment or material supply issues? Are there resource peaks or troughs?

6. Confirm durations and review the sequence with people in your team and walk through the sequences. Check & validate your durations and logic. Is the schedule too long or too aggressive?

7. Communicate the plan to the wider team and stakeholders. Present the schedule in a 'visual format' for ease of review. A 100 page bar chart won't communicate the plan and will likely confuse.

8 . Update & reissue. Communicate the changes/impacts. Change the 'visual format' if required

9. Update progress, report and reissue

10. Collaborate & Communicate