The Project Plan
This week....our team wrote the project plan for our instructional design project Online Course Development for Faculty. The plan is not due until next week but we are trying to stay ahead of the game because we know “hard times may be coming…”
Developing a project plan is an important phase for instructional design because it requires the team to think through all aspects of managing the project from scope to staff, expected completion time to budget and potential risks. At first, the requirements seemed overwhelming but we divided the parts and were able to accomplish the tasks without much difficulty. I was responsible for writing the scope, deliverables and risk analysis.
The project scope is a “big picture” statement but is specific enough to describe the final product, in this case instructional videos for online faculty developers. Writing the deliverables caused me to think through the critical phases of the project and determine which sections should be sent to the client for review/approval. Finally, the risk analysis afforded me with an opportunity to focus on all potential threats to the project. After reviewing the plan with the team I believe that my sections have been thoroughly developed and provide a significant contribution to the plan. When combined with my team member’s sections, the plan provides a detailed map for this instructional design project.
Although I am typically an organized “planner,” this is the first time I have helped to write a project plan. I am glad to have had the opportunity to create this type of document because I now realize that it is necessary for project survival and success. Without a clear scope/goal, an understanding of how many people (and how many hours they are needed), potential risks, etc. a project is doomed to fail – or at least to flounder.
As our team moves forward with content analysis, design and development, it will be important to return to this plan and keep it updated. Should any changes need to be made to the project, we will need to note those changes and the potential impact to the project. Additionally, we will need to constantly review the status of our risks and work in proactive ways to avoid pitfalls to the project.
This week....our team wrote the project plan for our instructional design project Online Course Development for Faculty. The plan is not due until next week but we are trying to stay ahead of the game because we know “hard times may be coming…”
Developing a project plan is an important phase for instructional design because it requires the team to think through all aspects of managing the project from scope to staff, expected completion time to budget and potential risks. At first, the requirements seemed overwhelming but we divided the parts and were able to accomplish the tasks without much difficulty. I was responsible for writing the scope, deliverables and risk analysis.
The project scope is a “big picture” statement but is specific enough to describe the final product, in this case instructional videos for online faculty developers. Writing the deliverables caused me to think through the critical phases of the project and determine which sections should be sent to the client for review/approval. Finally, the risk analysis afforded me with an opportunity to focus on all potential threats to the project. After reviewing the plan with the team I believe that my sections have been thoroughly developed and provide a significant contribution to the plan. When combined with my team member’s sections, the plan provides a detailed map for this instructional design project.
Although I am typically an organized “planner,” this is the first time I have helped to write a project plan. I am glad to have had the opportunity to create this type of document because I now realize that it is necessary for project survival and success. Without a clear scope/goal, an understanding of how many people (and how many hours they are needed), potential risks, etc. a project is doomed to fail – or at least to flounder.
As our team moves forward with content analysis, design and development, it will be important to return to this plan and keep it updated. Should any changes need to be made to the project, we will need to note those changes and the potential impact to the project. Additionally, we will need to constantly review the status of our risks and work in proactive ways to avoid pitfalls to the project.
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