ABSTRACT
Project success is inherently aligned with and dependent upon effective project planning. Project plans establish a common frame of reference for the performance of project management and technical activities, and they provide a road map that guides the project team to fulfillment of project objectives. In turn, project tracking and control ensure progress toward project success by measuring actual project accomplishments against planned activities (project tracking) at regular intervals. When differences between the planned and actual events are deemed significant, corrective actions (project controls) can be implemented. That is the essence of project management. Of course, project planning must be timely, accurate, and complete, per the needs of each project. That is how project planning support provided by the project management office (PMO) becomes a valuable service within the relevant organization.
