Project planning is a discipline for stating how to complete a project within certain timeframe, usually

with defined stages, and with designated resources. One view of project planning divides the activity
into: Planning the schedule and Making supporting plans.

qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqA project designer is an individual in charge of designing projects. He/she provides

support to project developers on the projects they are undertaking. Project design is among the first
stages of a project, where features and expectations are planned.

Project Planning and Design is the schematic design phase of a project which involve laying out of
project designs, review codes and regulations, schematics coordination and communication of the
concepts of design by preparing Cost of Work estimates. In project Planning and Design, it’s important
for the subordinates to meet with the superior officer regularly and create a plan for getting exposure to
a variety of opportunities. Project Planning and Design entails the following tasks:

 Tasks code analysis.

 Develop sustainability goals based on existing environmental conditions
 Prepare code analysis documentation
 Select materials, finishes, and systems based on technical properties and aesthetic requirements
 Prepare Cost of Work estimates etc.

What is Project planning Cycle?

Project planning cycle is a step/ framework planned to assist project managers in completing
projects successfully. It is also refers to as the process that is followed by nearly all project managers
when moving through stages of project completion. It provides a framework for managing any type of
project within a business. Successful completion of a project is not an easy endeavor, It calls for a series
of tasks to meet stakeholder and client requirements; a lot is involved in the process before the project
reaches the completion phase. Project planning cycle keeps your ongoing projects more organized and
more viable to execute from ideation to completion. A reasonable Project planning cycle should define
the following aspects:

 What work needs to be achieved?

 Who will be involved in the team?
 What are the project deliverables?
 How to monitor the performance of each phase?

The project planning cycle is comprised of five different stages: initiation, planning, execution,
management and review. The purpose of the project lifecycle is to provide a timeline with goals and
milestones to accomplish at each stage.
A project plan is a blueprint of the entire project. A well-designed project plan should determine the list
of activities, the time frame, dependencies, constraints involved, and potential risks. It assists the
project manager to streamline operations to meet the end objective and track progress by taking
appropriate decisions at the right time.

Creating a Resource Plan: The resource plan provides information about various resource levels
required to accomplish a project. A well-documented plan specifies the labor and materials to complete
a project. Resources used should have relevant Project Management expertise. Experience in the
concerned domain is a priority.

Budget Estimation: Framing a financial plan helps you to set the budget and deliver project deliverables
without exceeding it. The final budget plan lists expenses on material, labor, and equipment. Creating a
budget plan will help the team and the project managers to monitor and control the costs throughout
the Project Management life cycle.

Gathering Resources: Gathering resources is an essential part of project planning as it helps to monitor
the quality level of the project. It is not enough to assemble a well-balanced team from internal and
external resources. Resources like equipment, money, software solutions, and the workplace should be
given to complete the assigned tasks.

Anticipating Risks and Potential Quality Roadblocks: The risk plan will help you identify risks and
mitigate them. It will comprise all the potential risks, the order of severity, and preventive actions to
track it. Once threats are under control, it is possible to deliver the project on time adhering to quality.
After the successful accomplishment of the project, there may be a few unexploited project resources,
including the remnant budget, which can be used by the project later.

PROJECT PLANNING FRAMEWORK

A project planning framework is a set of processes, tasks and tools that provide guidance and structure
for the execution of a project. The framework helps organizations map out the progression of the
individual project steps, from beginning to completion. The framework includes all aspects of the
project, from required resources and tools to specific processes and tasks.

Project planning frameworks typically will be organized into three main components:
 The project lifecycle: The project lifecycle provides a timeline with goals and milestones for five
different stages.
 The project control cycle: Project control cycle provides functions for monitoring and
management.
 Tools and templates. Provide organizations with ready-made frameworks that can be applied to
project implementations.

Popular project management frameworks include Agile, Scrum, PRINCE2, Integrated Project
Management (IPM), waterfall and Lean. While some frameworks were designed with general project
management in mind, others originated for specific purposes such as software development or
manufacturing, with use that broadened out into other project types over time.
Common project planning frameworks
Some project planning frameworks originated for general project management purposes, others were
designed for specific use cases -- such as in software development, IT governance structure or business
process improvement. Some frameworks were designed for specific use cases but have since branched
out into use with a broader variety of project types.
 Traditional project management: A framework that draws from the Project Management Body
of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide. PMBOK is designed around three phases of a project: inputs,
tools and techniques, and outputs.
 Agile: This framework, which relies on short delivery cycles, is often employed for projects
where speed and flexibility are prioritized.
 Lean. This framework focuses on reducing unnecessary waste in resources and optimizing
processes for efficiency.
 Critical chain project management (CCPM): This project management framework is more
centered around the use and allocation of specific resources, as opposed to emphasizing
timelines.
 Critical path method (CPM): A step-by-step technique, used for process planning. It seeks to
reduce bottlenecks and time frame issues, by defining which tasks are critical and which are not.
 Event chain methodology (ECM): This framework focuses on managing events -- and chains of
events -- that affect the schedules of projects, by accounting for variables and uncertainties.
 Project headway: A work breakdown structure (WBS) framework built around Project
Management Institute (PMI) standards that are offered only through PMI membership.
 Integrated project method (IPM): An adaptive and incremental mode of project delivery. The
IPM framework divides its core areas of focus into six areas:

Management of project risks

The risk to which an organization is exposed is not restricted to insurable risk but can also include non-
insurable risk. Managers in organization must devise ways of identifying and analyzing various risks and
provide economic control of those risks that threatens the assets and earning capacity of the
organization.
Banjo (1995) defined risk as the protection of assets, earnings, liabilities and people of an enterprise
with maximum efficiency at a minimum cost.
Risk can be defined as the variability that is likely to occur in the future returns expected from a project.
It can also be viewed as the inability to predict the outcome of an action or a situation where the future
outcome is not predicted using probability.
Risk is any unexpected event that affects the future returns expected from a project.

In project management, risk management is the practice of identifying, evaluating, and preventing or
mitigating risks to a project that have the potential to impact the desired outcomes. Project managers
are typically responsible for overseeing the risk management process throughout the duration of a given
project.
Project risk management is the process of identifying, analyzing and responding to any risk that arises
over the life cycle of a project which may negatively impact on project expected returns.
Risk management is the process of minimizing any potential problems that may negatively impact a
project's timetable.
Risk management is a technique used in measuring, monitoring and controlling financial risks on a firm’s
balance sheet.

PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

An appropriate risk management strategy must be put in place once the major risk is identified.
However, the following strategies can be used in managing risk in Nigeria industries.
1. Risk Avoidance and Minimization: This strategy is frequently used in risks management, it involve
avoidance of long-term exposure, matching increased risk with high returns for the exposure and
adoption of internal audit and inspection. The last option seems to be the best risk management
approach used by business organization in Nigeria.
2. Risk Transfer: This involves transferring risk to an external agency such as guarantee of government
and their agency and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation.
3. Risk Retention: These are risks that cannot be avoided therefore adequate measures must be made
available in addressing such risks. The measure involves cost control measures which help to enhance
profitability, liquidity level and capital adequacy.

NATURE OF PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk management is a software engineering practice with processes, methods and tools for managing
risks in a project. It provides disciplined environment for practice decision making to:
(i) Assess continually what can go wrong
(ii) Determine what risks are important to deal with.
(iii) Implement strategies to deal with those risks.
Risk management is a technique used in measuring, monitoring and controlling financial risks on a firm’s
balance sheet.
Banjo (1995) defined risk as the protection of assets, earnings, liabilities and people of an enterprise
with maximum efficiency at a minimum cost.

PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

The activities involve in management of risk include:
(1)Planning for risk: The plan must include risk management tasks, activities, responsibilities and budget.
(2)Assigning risk officer: A team member under their project manager who is responsible for foreseeing
potential project problems.
(3)Maintaining live project risk data base: Each risk must consist of probability, importance, short
description, etc.
(4) Creating anonymous risk reporting channel. The risk associated with a project must be reported by
each team member.
(5) Preparing mitigation plan for risks that are chosen to be mitigated. This is done in order to
determine what, when, how and how to handle a particular risk in order to avoid or minimize it.
(6) Summarizing planned and faced risk, effectiveness of mitigation activities and effort spend for
the risk management.

STEPS/STAGES TO EFFECTIVE PROJECT DESIGN

We’ll explain how to design projects for specific industries in the sections below. Regardless of your
industry, however, there are some basic steps you should follow during the project design phase. These
steps will help you create an effective project design document, and work more effectively with all
parties involved.
1. Define Project Goal
First and foremost, you should meet with your team and key stakeholders to define the ultimate goal or
outcome of your project. This might be the product that is going to be developed, the service that will
be provided, or the problem your project will solve. Consider the needs and expectations of all
stakeholders and/or beneficiaries when determining your goals, and get their approval early on. Make
sure your team members weigh in on the accuracy and feasibility of the goals you define, as well.
Remember, the more of this you can figure out ahead of time, the easier your project will be to manage
later.

2. Determine Outcomes, Objectives, and/or Deliverables

After the primary goals have been established, break each down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
In some industries, such as nonprofit and education, these pieces are objectives or outcomes—for
example, solutions to problems that have been identified for the population you’re trying to help, or
learning goals that students need to achieve. In other industries, such as project management and
software development, the smaller pieces may be deliverables, such as a marketing plan, or a prototype
of the software. During the design phase, some organizations break down outcomes, objectives, and/or
deliverables even further into the tasks and activities required to complete them. Others save the
task/activity breakdown for a later phase of the project life cycle, such as during project scheduling. It’s
up to your organization to decide what works best.

3. Identify Risks, Constraints, and Assumptions

Now that you’ve determined what you want your project to achieve, identify anything that could stand
in the way of its success. Document any risks and constraints on budget, time, or resources that could
affect your team’s ability to reach goals, milestones, and outcomes. Then try to resolve as many of these
problems as you can. This will help prevent delays once the project is underway. It’s also good practice
to document any assumptions made during the project design phase. These will come in handy when
you create a Statement of Work (SOW) and/or project schedule, and will also help you estimate costs
more accurately.

4. Prepare a Visual Aid

Once you’ve determined your goals, outcomes, and risks, you can prepare a visual aid to represent part
or all of the projects. Visualizations are particularly common in the creative, construction, nonprofit, and
software development verticals. However, using visualizations can be useful when managing any type of
project since they provide team members and stakeholders an easily understandable snapshot of the
project’s goals, outcomes, deliverables, products, services, and/or functionality. Visual aids may include:
Sketches or drawings, Plans, schematics, or rough blueprints, Flow charts, Site trees, Gantt charts etc.

5. Ballpark Your Budget

It’s important to know the budget right from the start. Even if you don’t have a complete picture of the
costs and incomes your project will generate, create a budget in as much detail as you can. The clearer
you can be about your budget during the project design phase, the less likely you are to experience
unexpected cost overruns later. Estimating your budget will also help you determine the feasibility of
the project. If the cost is more than your client, customer, funding source, or partnering entity can
spare, the project can’t realistically be undertaken.

6. Determine Approval and Monitoring Processes

Now that you have a picture of the project’s goals, risks, and budget, decide how success will be
determined. List the criteria you’ll use to judge whether deliverables, outcomes, and the final product
have been achieved. You should also determine what processes must be followed in order for the
project and its elements to be approved, and who is responsible for approval.

7. Use Proper Project Design Documents

Of course, you must also use the proper documentation to capture all this information. In project
management, the output of the design phase may be as simple as a Gantt chart, flow chart, work chart,
or hierarchy chart that is carried into the project planning phase. However, many projects do not have a
formal design phase. Instead, there is an initiation phase, in which a detailed project plan, project
charter, or project initiation document (PID) is created. The approach you take will depend on your
organization.