Process Management Plan

Definition: The Process Management Plan is a document defining how a project is executed. The process owner, in collaboration with inputs from the project team and key stakeholders, creates this formal, approved document. It outlines how the process is executed, monitored, and controlled. This plan, whether a summary or a detailed document, may include baselines, subsidiary management plans, and other planning documents. It serves as a guide for the project team in delivering the intended process management scope of the process.

Creation Process: Initiated by the process owner, this plan undergoes collaborative development. Inputs from the project team and key stakeholders shape this formal, approved document. It serves as a guide for executing, monitoring, and controlling the defined process.

Document Components: The Process Management Plan can be a short summary or a detailed document, including baselines, subsidiary management plans, and other planning documents. This flexibility enables customization according to the unique needs of the project.

Key Information:

1. Overview and Context:
   • The plan begins with an overview, setting up the project’s context and offering a broad understanding of its scope, objectives, and overall goals.
2. Description of Process and Implementation:
   • After the introduction, this section provides a detailed break down of the process and how it will be carried out. It explains the methods of execution, step by step approaches, and the strategies the team will use.
3. Preservation:
   • Highlighting the protection of project elements, this section emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity and accessibility of essential artifacts throughout the project’s lifecycle.
4. Long-Term Storage and Funding:
   • This section outlines considerations for the prolonged storage of project documentation and the funding required for sustained maintenance, ensuring the project’s legacy and ongoing viability.
5. Sharing and Reuse:
   • The plan defines mechanisms for sharing project knowledge and facilitating the reuse of successful methodologies, nurturing a culture of continuous improvement and efficiency.
6. Legal Aspects:
   • This section elaborates on legal considerations relevant to the project, encompassing compliance requirements, intellectual property considerations, and any legal constraints affecting the project.
7. Monitoring and External Dependencies:
   • A critical component includes outlining how the project will monitor and address dependencies on external factors.This proactive approach ensures early detection and mitigation of potential risks.
8. Adherence and Review:
   • The plan concludes with a focus on adherence to defined processes and regular reviews. This ongoing evaluation fosters accountability and provides opportunities for process optimization.

Further Resources:

• Explore additional insights into project enhancement with our comprehensive Process Improvement Plan.
• Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK, 1996)

Related Links:

• Why your project is really a process (and why you should care)
• Building processes – Case study
• Process Management Plan
• Construction process management – case study
• Process improvement process steps: An introduction
• Process discovery methods to find hidden business processes

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Explore more about different process improvement terms in our BPM Glossary.