Planning and scheduling are two closely related but different processes that are used in project management and other fields to efficiently organize, coordinate, and carry out tasks.
Planning is the process of identifying objectives, formulating plans of action, and delineating the manpower and material requirements necessary to accomplish those objectives. It establishes the overarching plan and structure for a task or endeavor.
Key elements of planning are:
- Establishing goals
- Resource allocation
- Task breakdown
- Timeline
- Risk management
- Communication
- Output
Scheduling is a process that entails giving each task or activity that was determined during the planning process a start and end date. To meet the projects overall deadlines, it generates a timeline that indicates when each task should be completed.
Key elements are:
- Task sequencing
- Duration estimation
- Resource allocation
- Timeline creation
- Critical path analysis
- Adjustments
The result of the scheduling process is a comprehensive project schedule that serves as a roadmap for completing tasks on time and aids in effectively tracking the advancement and allocation of resources.
Relationship:
- Sequential process
- Iterative process
- Interdependence
Both planning and scheduling are essential components in project management. Helping teams and decision makers achieve their goals in an organized an efficient manner.
Simulation Based Planning and Scheduling refers to using a dynamic simulation model to inform the plan by scheduling the resources and activities based on observations from the simulated representation of the system (also referred to as a digital twin).