Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
There are times to make slight detours based on the particular needs at that moment. We have lanes on the road for all to follow, though sometimes its necessary for the driver to swerve out of the way or change lanes. We have to adapt as needed, not blindly follow a plan just because it is the plan. Saving Changes...
Irshad MubarakSenior Project Manager| WileyWellampitiya, Sri Lanka
Agree with Andrew, From my point of veiw is, a plan sould't be a concrete set of instructions. It should be prepared in a flexible manner where you can do some tweeks while the project is in progress. Thats where project monitoring and control come to play a major role during the execution. Having said that stict to a plan is very important if there is no plan there is no control in a project. Saving Changes...
It would depend on who was your sponsor/employer, the contracts involved, whether you are full-time with the company or a PM contractor, what you have signed, whether it's private or public sector, there are just so many variables. A plan is the steps you take in a particular direction, the processes you choose to adopt are more about how you will arrive there. Saving Changes...
Hassan HaghighatArea manager in construction site| pars oil and gas companyGolpayegan, Isfahan, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
We shouldn't forget the tailoring of the processes in our projects which may differ the projects and reflect inherent difference in process application area. But if the plan is approved then follow the plan or change it through the change management plan.or conduct the process improvement action. Besides every action should be traceable. Consider the situation that we are removed from the projects the next day for any reason think of what the next PM think we have done. Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Andrew summated the situation well. PMs often encounter problems when they treat a project plan like holy scripture that can never be changed. A project plan is just a useful tool that helps guide a project its intended goal, and we should be willing to change or even discard the plan as circumstances warrant. Saving Changes...
Rajeev SharmaPrincipal Consultant | Strategy, EA CoE | Digital Transformation, AI and Gen-AI| Tech MahindraGurgaon, Haryana, India
Andrew summarized well and i agree with his point of view. I feel sometimes we got a sponsor's bye in to take a flexible approach and run project on anticipation model. Post mitigation of specific situation stakeholders recommend to come back on formal and well structured PM model. Saving Changes...
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" - Mike Tyson
"No plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force." - Helmuth von Moltke the Elder
'Nuff said...
Kiron Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Planning is important, not the plan. Saving Changes...
You also may be needed to update or revise the plan. Tailoring the process is necessary. You need a plan which comes from planning processes, though. Saving Changes...
The plan was made with available informations.
Progress in the project would certainly give newer informations. Why not take the opportunity to improve on the current plan. Saving Changes...