Drawing of Stakeholder map

Project Management, Project Planning, Templates and Advice

  • Concise, focused guide that cuts through the clutter
  • Step-by-step instructions for creating a project plan in under a day
  • Master essential skills like work breakdowns and task sequencing
  • Real-world troubleshooting for 20 common scheduling challenges
  • Rapidly get up to speed if you're new to Microsoft Project
  • Includes glossary, support resources, and sample plans
The cover of the book 'Essential Microsoft Project: The 20% You Need to Know'

Project Planning Guides

by | reviewed 26/04/2024
Project Planning how to guides and templates from the experts! These articles are written by specialists in Project Planning and Scheduling, who have many years experience managing projects across all industries.

How to Plan a Project in 4 simple steps

Need to plan your project? Don't know where to start? Plan your project easily using this guide and our proven project plan templates

What does As-Soon-as-Possible mean in project scheduling?

What does As-Soon-as-Possible mean? Understand the meaning and definition of the As-Soon-as-Possible (ASAP) scheduling approach in project management.

What does As-Late-as-Possible mean in project scheduling?

Understand the As-Late-as-Possible (ALAP) scheduling technique in project management. This method focuses on optimizing resource allocation and offers flexibility, improved efficiency, and effective prioritization of critical tasks. A comprehensive look at its significance in project success.

What does Baseline mean?

A project baseline is the starting point used to measure progress. It records scope, schedule, and budget before changes are made. Baselines allow project managers to assess performance against fixed metrics. Learn why setting a baseline is crucial to determine if a project succeeds.

What does Baseline Finish mean?

Baseline finish date is a term commonly used in project management, particularly in the context of project scheduling and planning. It refers to the estimated or planned completion date for a task, activity, or the entire project, based on the initial project plan or schedule. Learn why the baseline finish date is important.

What does Baseline Start mean?

When a project manager creates a project schedule, they establish planned start dates for each task or within the project. These dates form the project's baseline schedule, which is used to compare against actual start dates. Learn why the baseline start date is important.

Project Plan Checklist: 15 steps to the perfect schedule

This 15 point checklist ensures that your project plan is workable and realistic. It is fast and easy to use, and FREE to download in Word and PDF.

Crashing and fast-tracking project plans

Crashing and fast-tracking project plans: Why forcing projects to meet fixed dates is a disaster for your project!

What is Critical Path Analysis

Critical path is one of the most useful tools in Project Management. Read this guide to Critical Path Analysis, a key analysis technique used by Project Managers in project planning. Includes a defintion and examples.

What are Gantt Charts? How they work, history, examples and limitations

What are Gantt charts? Gantt Charts are the foundation of project planning. Read this 5 minute introduction to Henry Gantt and Gantt charts. Most introductions to modern project planning techniques begin with Henry Gantt (1861 – 1919).

What is a Network Diagram? Meaning and definition

Learn what a Network Diagram is, and how it is used in project management. A clear and concise explanation with an example.

How to create a Precedence Diagram step by step

How to create a Project Precedence Diagram. Includes Step by Step instructions for creating a project Precedence Diagram. Stage 2 of project planning focuses on the order in which the tasks need to happen. To understand that we take need to create a Precedence Diagram.

Why you should avoid fixing start and finish dates in project scheduling

Avoid this common project planning mistake. In this guide we explain why fixing start and finish dates is a disaster for accurate project scheduling.

Project Planning - Resource Allocation and Levelling

Guide planning a project. This page covers stage 4 - resource allocation and levelling and discusses a common planning challenge.

How to add task duration to a Project Schedule

How to add task duration to a Project Schedule. In this 3rd stage of project planning you estimate the duration needed to complete each task.

Task Dependencies in Project Planning

Understand the task dependencies in project planning. Know how to use the task dependencies in project scheduling - finish-to-start, start-to-finish, start-to-start and finish-to-finish.

Task Sequence Dependency Attributes in Project Scheduling

How to use Task sequence in Project Scheduling. Task sequence can be classified as one of four different types. Mandatory vs. Discretionary and Internal vs. External. Knowing and understanding the different types of sequence dependencies provides a lot of benefits.

Three-Point Estimation: a Calculator and Comprehensive Guide

Three-point or multipoint estimation is a technique used in project management and other disciplines to estimate future events, typically costs or task durations. It incorporates uncertainty and risk by considering three scenarios: optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic. Learn to apply Triangular and PERT methods effectively using our calculator and comprehensive guide.

How to make a Timeline with PowerPoint

Need a simple, beautiful project timeline in PowerPoint? Learn how to make a PowerPoint timeline. A free Microsoft PowerPoint plugin which allows you to make attractive, colourful, but professional timelines. It comes with several pre-packed styles and templates.

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Need to create a WBS? Read this guide to creating a Work Breakdown Structure. To plan a project you need to be sure that you have captured all of the deliverables and tasks that make up the finished project in a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

Work Breakdown Structure checklist

Use this checklist to review your Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)! This checklist can be used for any project regardless of industry. It focusses on the key elements that must be in place for a WBS to define the work.

Example Work Breakdown Structures

22 Work Breakdown Structure examples! WBS examples for a software project, construction projects, a conference, finding a job, selling a house, planning permission and other real projects. FREE to download in Visio and PDF format.

Work Breakdown Structure - Online template

Need to create a work breakdown structure? Use this WBS template to create your WBS online in minutes. Created in MindMeister, it is scalable for any size of project. Adjust the colours and styles with customisable themes. Export to PDF, image, .mind. Edit the WBS with your team with online collaboration and email links or embed in a webpage.