PROJECT PLANNING AND CONTROL

Project Planning and Control

Project Planning and Control

Introduction

One of the most crucial activities that take place during project management is planning. Projects are destined to fail if adequate attention is not given to planning the scope, the timing of activities, and project costs.

"A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there."

- H.Stanley Judd.

Discussion

Planning procedures are the first and perhaps most important step in conducting a successful internal audit. Without adequate planning, the likelihood of missing relevant control weaknesses or encountering engagement-related problems increases considerably. Moreover, improper planning can lead to changes in scope or objectives after much of the audit work has already been completed.

Starting a project with a good plan is like mapping out the course the project will take. A good plan tells you which direction to go, what turns to take, and what to do if you run into a bump that causes you to take a detour. Regardless of the size, type or duration of a project, a good plan will you from beginning to end and it will help increase the likelihood that your project will be successfully managed and completed.

Definition of planning and control

"Planning is the process of establishing aims and objectives and choosing a course of action to ensure that they are achieved. This process serves to bridge the gap between where an organisation currently is and where it would like to be." ( Tiernan, 2001: 117)

But planning cannot be seen as independent part of management. Weihrich and Koontz (1993) likened the relationship between planning and control to a pair of scissors - the scissors cannot work unless there are two blades.

"The control process involves measuring progress towards planned performance and, where necessary, applying corrective measures so that performance can be improved. Therefore, control is concerned with making sure that goals and objectives are attained. It is strongly related to planning in that for control to occur objectives and plans have to be available against which to measure performance. Similarly, planning cannot function effectively if there are no control mechanisms to correct deviations from plans." (Tiernan, 2001: 289)

Project Planning

The application of modern project management techniques to the commercial relocation sector, particularly in regard to scheduling and the handling of IT systems, has transformed the relocation industry. The services offered by commercial relocation consultancies and some of the larger commercial removal companies now extend beyond the traditional roles into providing a wide range of project management solutions. They provide complete turnkey programmes, appointing a project team to manage the move from its early stages through to completion. Their services include evaluating current working environments and methods of working, analysing and comparing costs and benefits of the options available, providing information used in the decision-making process and assisting companies to find the correct solution for them. Whether refitting, churning or relocation is required, the industry uses advanced techniques of project management and computer-aided facilities management to ensure that company downtime and disruption ...