2 Responses

1. Planning exercise
   Please feel free to download a planning exercise called The Rescue Package that we use in our Manager Development programme. You can find it in the Generic session exercises section on the Resources page of http://www.trainerbase.co.uk.

2. Producing a Project Plan – a practical activity
   In answer to your question it may pay to give them the key aspects of what the project plan should contain and then an activity to apply against these aspects. One such that I have successfully delivered is “You are now the manager for a small corner shop and are ready to expand. Having purchased the empty shop next door, you have to construct a plan from now to when you open the expanded store operation.
   In your groups discuss what is required and produce a creativity list (brainstorm) of all the activities required.”
   The slide I showed before introducing this activity had the following bullets “What needs to be delivered.
   Why it is being delivered – for what benefit.
   Who is delivering it.
   How it will be delivered.
   When it will be delivered by.
   What will it cost.”
   I gave them 15 minutes to produce their output and another 3 minutes per group for presenting back.
   Then I followed up by having a group discussion on whether their project plan had met the following objectives – A project plan should have these objectives:
   > To enable the Project Manager/Team to think ahead and reveal potential problems and help to solve these problems before they arise.
   > To ensure efficient and effective communications so that reports/strategy documents/updates etc can be issued to the correct people at the correct time.
   > To provide yardsticks against which the progress of the project can be measured. This gives a basis for regular reviews and updates.
   > To minimise risks and uncertainty.

   I hope this helps and please feel free to contact me for more information.

   Pash (pashlal@plga.co.uk)