Dave Litten's Primer and Project Management Site

Product Based Planning (PBP) is used within the Planning Process (PL2). And the Planning Process is used whenever a “real” Plan is needed – these are: 

1. Project Plan
2. Stage Plan
3. Optional Team Plan
4. Exception Plan if needed

All other plans are really strategies (Project Quality Plan, Configuration Management Plan, Communication Plan) The Post Project Review Plan does not need PBP as it is just a schedule, measurements, and resources showing how the Business Case benefits are to be measured, tracked, and eventually realized. 

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So What Is A Project?

 Let’s start with what it isn’t: Your ‘normal’ job might be managing or running a department, carrying out a set of services, managing a team, creating products, etc.This is broadly called ‘operations management’. You come into work each day and perform your normal work duties. Now these can change and be different each day. Imagine for a moment that you are on a help desk of some sort. Each day would be different depending upon what ‘help’ you are asked for. Your daily job itself is permanent.

Now a Project is different. It is a one time event, it is unique, it has an agreed set of objectives, and it has a distinct beginning and end. At its simplest, even making a cup of coffee has all the hallmarks of a project.

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