The subject of planning
When and how to plan is usually covered well in all methodologies, but the subject of planning is something you can spend more time on and tailor to your project when needed.
The old versions of the PMBOK Guide had a set of knowledge areas that were similar in some aspects to our current topic of performance domains, yet mainly different. They are, in my opinion, the best way of explaining various subject areas for planning as well as monitoring and controlling. Here are the old knowledge areas:
- Integration
- Scope
- Schedule
- Cost
- Quality
- Resources
- Communications
- Risk
- Procurement
- Stakeholders
This is only a way of structuring what you already know about various areas, but it’s a well-formed list you can use to double-check and make sure everything is covered properly in your system. Your method probably covers all of them, but the level of detail may not be suitable for your project. So, the next time someone shows you a time schedule and says that it’s their “plan”, show them the list above and ask them where the other 12 areas are planned!