ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on planning the timing, activities and resources needed for projects— the core of the work program— and the technical tools that make it possible. Project strategies cannot be implemented unless there is a clear action plan, with the necessary staff, resources and equipment at hand. A work package should be detailed enough to facilitate further planning, such as scheduling tasks and determining resources, and to assist the project manager to maintain control of time and resource use during implementation. Managing time is important for projects, and estimating the time required for tasks and activities is a reliable way to establish a schedule and milestones against which progress can be assessed. The development of the Work breakdown structure (WBS) gives people a starting point for performing the next difficult task of project planning: estimating the time required to complete each task and the whole project.
