Introduction
The project planning phase holds a lot of importance in any project be it construction or software as proper planning and project preparation prevents poor performance in projects. The planning phase deals with the systematic definition of the different activities that are needed to be implemented for successful project implementation (Walker, 2015). The report discusses the activities and deliverables of the planning phase in construction.
Activities in planning phase
The project-planning phase addresses the scope of the project. It is one of the major activities that are followed in the planning phase. This activity estimates the time and cost of the project. It calculates the time required to successfully complete the project within the scheduled time. Along with the project scope, the objectives of the project are also identified in this phase. After identifying the scope and objectives of the project, the planning phase deals with the identification of the project milestone. A work breakdown structure or a work schedule is prepared that indicates the different tasks of each phase of the entire project (Larson & Gray, 2013).
After identifying the different requirements of the project, it is essential to identify the critical success factors of the project. The critical success factor of the project includes supportive sponsors, realistic schedule and calculated budget. The next activity of the planning phase includes preparation of the project charter, approval of which will lead to project initiation phase of the project life cycle.
Deliverables
The deliverables of the project-planning phase in the construction project includes releasing the project schedule and project budget for approval. Release of the project budget is another deliverable of the project (Kerzner, 2013). With the approval of the project charter, the preparation of the architectural design of the construction project is another major deliverable of this phase. The Resource plan of the project is released in this phase that gives an overview of the resource requirement of the construction project. Since the size of any construction is generally large it is essential to ensure these deliverables in the planning phase.
Actions
In order to ensure the project success, it is the responsibility of the project manager to ensure that all the stakeholders of the project are rightly informed about the project progress (Heravi, Coffey & Trigunarsyah, 2015). The project manager is responsible for checking the clarity of the project requirements and project scope identified in the project planning stage. The project manager identifies the risks associated with the project and takes flexible action in responding to the identified risks. The success of the phase indicates the approval of the project plan. Being the project manager, is my responsibility to ensure that the design and data in the plan are properly evaluated.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion, it can be concluded that project planning phase holds a lot of importance in terms of developing a proper project plan that would be followed throughout the execution of the construction project. The report identifies the major activities and the key deliverables of this phase that reflects the importance of this phase in the project life cycle.
References
Heravi, A., Coffey, V., & Trigunarsyah, B. (2015). Evaluating the level of stakeholder involvement during the project planning processes of building projects. International Journal of Project Management, 33(5), 985-997.
Kerzner, H. (2013). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. (2013). Project Management: The Managerial Process with MS Project. McGraw-Hill.
Walker, A. (2015). Project management in construction. John Wiley & Sons.
