Pre-Project Planning: Beginning a Project the Right Way

The early stages in the project life cycle, such as business planning and pre-project planning, can have a much greater influence on the project’s outcome than later stages. The “Cost-Influence Curve” shown below illustrates that it is much easier to influence a project’s outcome during the project planning stage when expenditures are relatively minimal than it is to affect the outcome during project execution or operation of the facility when expenditures are more significant. (RS39-1, p. 1)

The research identified six fundamental principles that are important to pre-project planning. First is that pre-project planning is a process that can be standardized and the concepts presented can be adapted to the specific needs of individual organizations. The other five principles are detailed in the research. (RS39-1, p. 21)

Pre-project planning improves project predictability in terms of cost, schedule, and operating performance. (RS39-1, p.22)

• Improved cost predictability
• Improved schedule predictability
• Better attainment of operational and production goals in the first six months of operation
• Better achievement of business goals
• Better definition of risks
• Fewer scope changes
• Greatly reduced probability of project failures and disasters

Pre-project planning increases the chances of the project meeting environmental and social goals. (RS39-1, p. v)