Start the Wheels Turning

The charter helps everyone plan just a little up front to point themselves in a reasonable direction—or determine early whether there is no reasonable direction. The project plan focuses the team on the desired project results.

If you have a small enough team, say fewer than ten people, write the project plan with them as a group. Have a conversation with your team about where to head for the next couple of days or weeks, keeping the project’s outcome in mind. If you have some requirements, the team can start prototyping or developing the first iteration. If you’re using an agile life cycle, use the project plan as the release plan.

More likely, you have only some of the people you need, or too many people for the ...

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