Take a look at most current research on the most necessary business competencies and you’ll see adaptability. In most organizations, conditions change on a dime and you must be prepared to shift course accordingly. So although some long-range planning is still desirable, incremental planning is equally if not more important.
According to Patti Johnson, author of the new book Make Waves, incremental planning is:
- Future focused
- Flexible
- Short horizon, with long-term goals in mind
- Collaborative
Incremental project planning assumes you make adjustments as you go and still reach your overall goals, even if they change over time. It’s a fine line to walk, though, between having no plan and having so much structure that you can’t react nimbly in the face of unpredictable challenges.
I recently walked this line myself when I engaged in a research project that was impacted by evolving market conditions. On the one hand, we had to develop a clear hypothesis, a relevant audience analysis, and a sound methodology. But on the other, we knew that our results might be unexpected and affect the recommendations that would be derived from the research.
Even while our data collection was in process, we weren’t entirely sure of our final product. We knew what we needed to accomplish from a business perspective, but we didn’t know how it would look just yet. Some of the higher-ups were more comfortable with this approach than others, but we were able to share just enough concrete planning to satisfy them.
Johnson suggests these steps to infuse your project management with more incremental planning.
Have very clear outcomes
Even if you eventually move in another direction, know where you are headed. Keep your goals simple and achievable and revisit them frequently.
Balance specific plans with flexibility
Plans are essential in order to be in a state of perpetual action. However, making changes to plans doesn’t mean you’ve made a mistake or taken the wrong path. You aren’t necessarily changing your destination, just how you get there.
For more tips from Patti, head over to Intuit's Fast Track blog.
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