The Ultimate Project Planning Checklist for Success

Master every project phase with this comprehensive guide – unlock the full checklist and elevate your project management skills.

Embarking on a new project can feel like navigating uncharted territory. Success hinges on meticulous planning, but where do you even begin? This ultimate project planning checklist provides a step-by-step framework through every crucial stage, from initial definition to final closure. Get started with the essential first steps below, and subscribe to unlock the full, in-depth checklist that will empower you to organise, execute, and deliver successful projects, time and time again.

This checklist is designed to guide you through the essential steps of effective project planning, ensuring a higher likelihood of success for any project, regardless of industry.

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1. Project Initiation & Definition

• Clearly articulate the business need or opportunity the project addresses.

• Define the desired outcomes and benefits of the project.

• Identify all key stakeholders, including sponsors, team members, end-users, and impacted parties.

• Document the expectations and requirements of each key stakeholder.

• Clearly define the project scope, including all deliverables and objectives.

• Explicitly outline what is out of scope to manage expectations.

• Conduct a preliminary assessment of feasibility (technical, economic, operational, legal, schedule).

• Ensure that key resources (personnel, budget, equipment) required to support the project have been initially identified and a preliminary allocation has been considered (where applicable).

• Define key project stages or phases.

• Identify specific "Stage Gates" that mark the transition between these stages.

• Determine the criteria for successful completion of each stage (deliverables, approvals, etc.).

• Assign responsibility for approving progression through each Stage Gate (e.g., Project Sponsor, Steering Committee).

• Develop a high-level project charter or initiation document that summarises the project's purpose, objectives, scope, key stakeholders, preliminary resource considerations, and initial stage gates and approval responsibilities.

• Secure formal approval (sign-off) on the project charter from the project sponsor, including agreement on the initial stage gates and resource considerations.

2. Planning and Strategy Development

• Goals & Objectives:

  • Define Specific project goals.

  • Ensure goals are Measurable with clear success criteria.

  • Verify that goals are Achievable with available resources and constraints.

  • Confirm goals are Relevant to the overall business strategy.

  • Establish a Time-bound framework for achieving goals.

• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):

  • Break down the main project deliverables into smaller, more manageable tasks.

  • Further decompose tasks into sub-tasks or work packages as needed.

  • Assign responsibility for each task or work package.

• Resource Planning:

  • Estimate the time required to complete each task.

  • Determine the budget needed for each resource (personnel, materials, tools, etc.).

  • Formally assign and allocate specific resources to project tasks and activities.

  • Identify the personnel with the necessary skills and availability.

  • Plan for equipment, software, and other tools required.

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✨ Unlock the Full "Ultimate Project Planning Checklist" ✨

Continue your journey to project mastery! Subscribe now to gain access to the remaining comprehensive sections of this checklist, including:

2. Planning & Strategy Development (continued): Dive deep into scheduling, risk management, and more.

3. Execution Planning: Ensure smooth implementation with detailed steps for team management and communication.

4. Monitoring & Control Planning: Learn how to track progress, manage changes, and keep your project on course.

5. Closure Planning: Effectively finalise your projects and capture valuable lessons learned.

Don't leave your project success to chance. Subscribe now for the complete list and take your project management skills to the next level!