Activity: Refine the Development Plan
This activity refines project plans, as needed.
DescriptionWork Breakdown StructureTeam AllocationWork Product Usage
Relationships
Parent Activities
Description

The Project Plan was created and reviewed early in the inception phase.  Thereafter, generally at the beginning of each iteration, the Project Plan (and its enclosures, when they exist) may need revision, based on the previous iteration's experience and the Iteration Plan for the next. The Project Manager also collates all other contributions to the Project Plan and assemble them in Task: Plan Project.

Properties
Event Driven
Multiple Occurrences
Ongoing
Optional
PlannedYes
Repeatable
Usage
Usage Guidance

This activity typically occurs at the beginning of each iteration.

Estimation should ideally be based in the organization's own experience, which is then used to calibrate an estimation model, such as COCOMO. If the Project Manager is starting from scratch, using default values for model coefficients, it will be important to use other methods to validate the estimates. Just as important is to obtain staff and other stakeholder agreement that the estimates are realistic and achievable. However, the Project Manager has to take into account the experience of staff giving feedback about estimates. More junior staff may be just guessing numbers and then adding large margins for error; conversely, their effort estimates may be naively low. The Project Manager must be circumspect when dealing with estimates from junior staff, and be prepared to counsel them when necessary, and offer the assistance of a more experienced peer. See Task: Plan Project for more information about estimation.

All plans should be evaluated through internal walkthroughs and reviews before the project planning review occurs.