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ArticlePublished 11 Aug 20261 min readBy Kevin Jogin
DOMAIN 4
PMBOK 7 Performance Domain · Deep Dive

Planning

Planning organises and coordinates the work to deliver outcomes. It is progressive (elaborated over time), right-sized to the development approach, and aimed at delivering value — not at producing documents for their own sake.

Visual Map — Progressive Elaboration & the Cone of Uncertainty

PROJECT PROGRESS / TIME → (plans elaborated by rolling wave) Early: ROM estimate −25% / +75% Definitive −5% / +10% Analogous Parametric Three-point Bottom-up Estimate ranges narrow as understanding grows — the cone of uncertainty.

Rolling-wave planning: plan near-term work in detail, later work coarsely, and refine as you go. Predictive efforts plan more up-front; adaptive efforts plan progressively.

Planning Variables — What You Plan

  • Delivery — deliverables & scope
  • Estimating — ranges & accuracy
  • Schedule — sequence, critical path
  • Budget — cost baseline + reserves
  • Team — composition & structure
  • Communication
  • Physical resources — logistics, lead times
  • Procurement — make-vs-buy
  • Changes
  • Metrics

Estimating Concepts

  • Accuracy (close to true) vs precision (repeatable/tight).
  • Ranges & confidence improve over time.
  • Methods: analogous, parametric, three-point/PERT, bottom-up.
  • Reserves: contingency (known) vs management (unknown).
  • Deterministic (single) vs probabilistic (ranges/Monte Carlo).

Exam Concepts

  • Progressive elaboration & rolling wave.
  • ROM −25/+75% → definitive −5/+10%.
  • Planning effort right-sized to the approach.
  • Plans must be internally consistent & aligned upward.

Executive View

  • Plan to the level that reduces risk & coordinates — not gold-plated docs.
  • Planning is continuous, not a one-off phase.
  • Align plans to program/portfolio strategy.

Industry Example

Construction vs IT
  • Construction: heavy up-front planning, critical path, long procurement lead times. Software: rolling-wave release planning, refined each sprint.

Interactions & Checking Results

  • Planning informs & is informed by every other domain.
  • Good signs: estimates converge, delivery is coordinated, change is handled smoothly, few surprises.

Memory Hooks

  • "Plan progressively, right-sized."
  • Estimates: rough → refined (the cone).
  • Reserves: contingency = known, management = unknown.
60-sec ReviewDraw the coneROM vs definitiveName 6 planning variablesAccuracy vs precisionRolling wave
PMI Visual Wall · Domain Deep-Dive · Planning · original instructional design · A3 landscape

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