Preparing myself against the “Nine Deadly Sins of Project Planning”
PRG101
Instructor: Dr. Stephen Vodhanel
January 10, 2015
Mark E. Johnson Jr.

In preparing myself for the Nine Deadly Sins of Project Planning, I will be focusing on each factor individually by stating what I will be doing to make sure my projects and planning do not fail pertaining to now and within the future to come.
Firstly, I will focus on the first sin that being not planning at all. Knowing that every detail when it comes to project planning is key, I have reviewed and understand that making sure each detail must be reviewed and understood before the planning must begin. Not planning at all can cause headache after headache and is very important, understanding this I have developed a plan of action to always have a plan in play before I even start to establish my coming of the project to be. Nevertheless, my plan of action is to always have a well thought out plan and to follow the plan of action, as well establishing the plan in the first place will be my very first step always. I will plan for the worst and the best always, also making sure that I always have a backup plan knowing you can’t always plan the future and things to come.
My second plan of action will follow the second sin, failing to account for all project activities. I will develop comprehensive plans, which will not only work for me but also work for my team in terms of understanding and importance of the project at hand, also make sure that the door is open to further my teams understanding of my comprehensive plan.
Focusing on the third sin of project planning this being failure to plan for risk, knowing that you can’t always plan for the good and bad of things setting a plan of knowing the risk at play, I will simply make sure that I am aware of the risk and have a plan in place to make sure the risk do not affect my project at hand. Nevertheless, my plan will follow the risk that could occur, not enough budget, weather, lack of employees, low amount of supplies, etc., with this being said developing a plan B pertaining to these mishaps is something I will always have in play just in case the initial plan does not work out according to the plan.
Referring to the fourth sin using the same plans, I have realized that the use of old plans will not always work for future plans. Upon this realization I will implement a new plan per every new job focusing on the improvements of this new plan, and also focusing on the negatives of the old to plan to implement ideas and improvements to make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice.
Applying prepackaged plans indiscriminately is the fifth sin of project planning, “meaning canned plans may not meet your needs at hand.” (Whittington, 2002) Understanding the needs that must be met are important not only to you but your fellow team as well. Implementing new ideas of ways to establish project plans is a good way to stay clear of this mistake, once idea may work for him/her but may not work for you establish ideas of your own so that your needs are met in the manner that they were meant.
Allowing a plan to change from project reality refers to the sixth sin; this is a simple yet confusing task it can. In addressing this sin making sure I am flexible to changes is key in my project planning with knowing this accepting changes will make my job easier and swifter in the long run, and as well as making sure the job is done right and on schedule.
Planning too much detail too soon is the seventh sin of project planning, making sure that I leave room for expansion upon information is important, meaning as information may change or come in later than other information I will properly implement this information into my plan in accordance so that I am not trying plan something that has not been fully detailed to me or my team.
Planning to catch up later is the eightieth sin of project planning, when it comes to catching up on projects it is more common that you will fall behind, for the simple reason everything takes time. Knowing this, being on time of scheduling and planning is important in my planning falling behind because of lack of carelessness will not be accepted. I will not make the plans unless I have the time to complete it, to prevent future failures my plans will be plotted and allotted the time I need so that there will be no failure.
Nevertheless, we come to our final sin not learning from past mistakes I have stated in my writing before this how I plan to overcome this common mistake, making sure that a mistake is acknowledged and fixed is my key point to make sure no mistakes are made twice. I will hold classes/meetings stating past mistakes and plans of action to make sure this does not happen again to me or my fellow team of employees.

References http://www.whittingtonassociates.com/2002/01/the-nine-deadly-sins-of-project-planning/ http://www.construx.com/Resources/Newsletter_Articles/Nine_Deadly_Sins_of_Project_Planning/