PROJECT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

Does project planning and implementation add to the success of a project?

Does project planning and implementation add to the success of a project?

Introduction

Project planning and implementation are increasingly becoming a way of life for public organizations across the globe. As a result, project planning and implementation are being relied upon to deal with the three tasks of coming up with important ideas worth implementing, forging the coalition needed to adopt and to implement the changes and implementing the changes in a timely fashion. In the process, planning and implementation and strategic and operational concerns are becoming fused (Moore, 2003, pp.26).

The research presents the basic elements of strategic planning and implementation including its attention to the environment, stakeholders, mission, mandates, strategic issues and strategies. Project planning is the basic building block of project management. The basic approaches to institutionalizing project management strategic planning systems are presented on strategic planning systems. Finally, a conclusion is presented (Moore, 2003, pp.33).

Discussion

Project planning is normatively structured as a linear decision-making process that makes plans as a way to achieve desired outcomes. The planning process is anchored by five sequential steps: (1) problem/ opportunity, (2) research, (3) policy/programming, (4) implementation, and (5) evaluation. The plan-making process begins when a planner is presented with a problem or opportunity. Here, the planner establishes the anatomy of the problem/opportunity and determines if the development of a plan is the best way to achieve a desired goal. The research phase in the planning process begins with a need for more information (“research question”) to shore up any deficiencies in his or her knowledge about the planning task being addressed. Research most commonly occurs during the research and evaluation junctures (Steps 2 and 5) in the planning process. However, the purposes for research in these two planning junctures are very distinct. Investigations made during the research phase of the planning process can take one of two directions: research as part of a comprehensive planning process or strategic research to investigate a planning problem. While various authors have suggested generic project planning processes, but is instead a set of concepts, methods and tools that must be customized carefully to conditions if enviable conclusions are to be accomplished.Project planning also is typically distinguished from project management. Project planning is the cornerstone of project management, but the latter is a far more encompassing process, 'concerned with managing an organization in a strategic manner on a continuing basis' (Eden, 2007, pp. 306).

Research Question

Does project planning and implementation add to the success of a project?

Poster and Streib (1999) present a framework for thinking about project management as a process. The framework incorporates seven elements: values, mission, and vision; strategic planning; results-oriented budgeting; performance management; project measurement; assessment of the internal and external environment; and feedback relationships among these elements. These elements will be discussed briefly in turn (Poister, 1999, pp.323).

Values, mission and vision are seen as a central organizing force for project management efforts. If consensus can be achieved on these elements among ...