Collaborative Planning

Lean Collaborative Planning is a structured approach to planning, monitoring, controlling and improving work activities. It aims to improve task flow, foster collaboration and engagement, protect critical path activity and enable Continuous Improvement.

Lean Collaborative Planning can improve productivity through better communication, resource management and information flow.

The Pull Planning technique establishes the shortest possible duration whilst protecting the critical path. It works by working from a target milestone backwards.

Key steps:

• Define the order of work to meet the milestone

 • Determine milestone completion dates

 • Develop the series and sequence of activity working backwards from the milestone

 • Apply durations to each activity with no contingency or float

 • Decide which activities require a buffer (the most fragile/risky)

 • To improve performance, use Visual Performance Management (VPM) to measure percentage   planned complete (PPC), trend analysis and reasons of incomplete activities

Top tips for successful Collaborative Planning:

 • Hold collaborative mapping at key stages in the project e.g. start- up, beginning of phase etc.

 • Conduct look ahead planning every 8-12 weeks

 • Identify and communicate the Critical Path

 • Focus on outcomes – use the Pull Planning technique

 • Ensure each discipline of the work activities is represented to provide visibility and transparency on constraints and dependencies.

 • Measure PPC = (No. of planned tasks completed/No. of planned tasks) x 100