Project planning.  The words sounds like something tangible, that everyone would agree on.  Yet, when you look at how people plan informal and formal projects, you realize how much variability there is in how we approach what sounds like an agreed upon process.

First of all, I see all kinds of project plans, but most people use one of the following five formats:

1. Memory-Verbal (e.g. do it all in your head)
2. Simple written list (may or may not have steps in sequential order)
3. Outline (plan uses an outline to convey order and grouping)
4. Gantt (plan uses timeline duration bars)
5. Map (plan uses spatial relationships to convey linkage and sequence)

Five different formats. Some people use predominantly one type, some use all five depending on the context. Regardless of the format you choose, you cannot at face value, tell which one is going to work the best. In short, the format doesn’t seem to have a strong correlation with how accurately or helpful a project plan is for organizing and predicting work effort.

ManagePro software supports project planning using options 2-5 above, and although I see a lot of ManagePro databases, there doesn’t seem to be a correlation between format and success. This is especially true on short term, lower complexity projects.  Yet, they each look different, take different amounts of time to create and wouldn’t be seen as equal to each other.

In spite of what the plan is, an individual’s decision making style shapes what happens in the project planning and completion process more than the plan or the plan format does.  Take a look at some of the styles identified:

Analytical, Conceptual, Rational, Intuitive, Impulsive, Flexible, Proactive, Dependant

Most of these styles don’t have a lock on the particular value or viability of any project planning processes either.  There doesn’t seem to be any value to always practicing only one of these decision making styles to be better at project planning.

So if the variability of format and style isn’t a good predictor of success, which should you choose? Well, that depends on what works best for you. Most project planners are already familiar with the above formats. However, if you are not an expert project planner, then you should give each one a try to find which suits your work style.

Perhaps most importantly, the trick to creating a project plan is that it must makes sense at first glance (e.g. at face value, it looks like a workable plan). If it cannot pass this test, go back to the drawing board. After drafting a plan that appears to be workable, remember to always measure your results.

Click here for more on project planning.