Title: Practitioners' preference: which project planning components offer the most promise?

Authors: Todd Creasy; Yang Fan; Nathan Johnson

Addresses: Western Carolina University, 315 Forsyth, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA ' Western Carolina University, 315 Forsyth, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA ' Western Carolina University, 315 Forsyth, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA

Abstract: This research was designed to uncover top planning components as determined by current project management practitioners. A qualitative analysis was conducted involving 58 project managers representing diverse professional years of experience, project sizes, and industries. Various planning components were deemed to be value-adding including the top four which were (in descending order): WBS, scope planning, risk management and stakeholder management. Key findings from the content analysis produced 'themes' which seem to support this ranking. These planning components and associated themes were: a) WBS - 'structure' and 'accountability'; b) scope planning - 'clarity' and 'reflectiveness'; c) risk management - 'uncertainties' and 'insurance'; d) stakeholder management - 'identification' and 'influence'.

Keywords: planning; stakeholders; WBS; risk management; scope.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2017.085290

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2017 Vol.9 No.2, pp.113 - 132

Accepted: 15 Jan 2016
Published online: 21 Jul 2017 *

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