What is a Project Plan Template?
A project plan template is a document detailing the guidelines, procedures, and other reminders necessary to follow or consider when planning and executing a project. This can be a simple list or, ideally, a checklist.
What is the Purpose of a Project Plan Template?
The main purpose of a project plan template is to guide the project planning process, and, later, the project execution. A project plan checklist template, in particular, serves to guide project managers, their stakeholders, their clients, and their other staff or partners to have a view of the project and its process before and during the project.
A project plan template should help with managing the project management process as a whole. However, specifically, it can also help with managing the following:
- Legal documents and processes necessary to execute the project
- Project milestones and goals, as well as when they should be completed or achieved
- Schedules of different tasks before and after project completion
- Budget for different resources such as materials, manpower, and permits
What to Include in a Project Plan Checklist Template
As a project plan template is based on the three main elements of a project plan, the template must contain sections for the following:
- The project scope and goals: What does the project hope to accomplish, and what can the project management team do for it? Additionally, what are the project management team’s limitations or constraints, and why?
- The project’s budget: What are the expected project deliverables and their related financial costs? Can the budget be extended beyond the agreed-upon amount?
- The project’s milestone schedule or timeline: What specific milestones should be met at certain points in time? And are these dates flexible, or should they be strictly followed?
In addition to the three main parts of a project plan, it would also be helpful to include:
- More details on the project, such as the name of it, if applicable, and who are involved
- Possible risks that may be encountered during the project execution stage
- Assumptions of different situations that may happen during the project management process
- Related documents concerning resources, legal requirements, and risks
Below is an example of a project plan template in use for your reference:
Project Plan Template Sample Report | SafetyCulture
FAQs about Project Plan Templates
Is there a proper project plan format?
What other templates do you need for project management?
Who uses the project plan template?
Roselin Manawis