DOMAIN 4
PMBOK 7 Performance Domain · Deep Dive
Planning
Planning organises and coordinates the work to deliver outcomes. It is progressive (elaborated over time), right-sized to the development approach, and aimed at delivering value — not at producing documents for their own sake.
Visual Map — Progressive Elaboration & the Cone of Uncertainty
Rolling-wave planning: plan near-term work in detail, later work coarsely, and refine as you go. Predictive efforts plan more up-front; adaptive efforts plan progressively.
Planning Variables — What You Plan
- Delivery — deliverables & scope
- Estimating — ranges & accuracy
- Schedule — sequence, critical path
- Budget — cost baseline + reserves
- Team — composition & structure
- Communication
- Physical resources — logistics, lead times
- Procurement — make-vs-buy
- Changes
- Metrics
Estimating Concepts
- Accuracy (close to true) vs precision (repeatable/tight).
- Ranges & confidence improve over time.
- Methods: analogous, parametric, three-point/PERT, bottom-up.
- Reserves: contingency (known) vs management (unknown).
- Deterministic (single) vs probabilistic (ranges/Monte Carlo).
Exam Concepts
- Progressive elaboration & rolling wave.
- ROM −25/+75% → definitive −5/+10%.
- Planning effort right-sized to the approach.
- Plans must be internally consistent & aligned upward.
Executive View
- Plan to the level that reduces risk & coordinates — not gold-plated docs.
- Planning is continuous, not a one-off phase.
- Align plans to program/portfolio strategy.
Industry Example
Construction vs IT
- Construction: heavy up-front planning, critical path, long procurement lead times. Software: rolling-wave release planning, refined each sprint.
Interactions & Checking Results
- Planning informs & is informed by every other domain.
- Good signs: estimates converge, delivery is coordinated, change is handled smoothly, few surprises.
Memory Hooks
- "Plan progressively, right-sized."
- Estimates: rough → refined (the cone).
- Reserves: contingency = known, management = unknown.
60-sec ReviewDraw the coneROM vs definitiveName 6 planning variablesAccuracy vs precisionRolling wave
PMI Visual Wall · Domain Deep-Dive · Planning · original instructional design · A3 landscape