Pull planning

Projects are networks of commitments. Each team member is making a promise to the others to deliver their work when it is needed.  Too often team members do not understand how to integrate their actions with others.

Pull planning requires all project stakeholders to participate.  Traditional project team neglect to include support or peripheral staff which leads to significant compromises.  For example, while information technology infrastructure may be considered as part of the project, the setting up of computers, printers and other devices along with software installation and verification may not be included in team meetings.  If inadequate support space is provided then efficient patient care can not be provided. These oversights will inevitably have an impact on project completion and on its long term success.

In its simplest form, pull planning looks at the desired outcomes, dates, etc. and "pulls" tasks back from those outcomes.  Inter-dependencies are then plotted with dates and deliverables.  These "promises" or tasks are then plotted on a schedule with clear dependencies identified.  Each project constituent places their tasks and desired outcomes on the schedule to identify all of the inter dependencies. This process is critical to project success.

At conclusion it creates an integrated schedule and task list and the responsible parties. Progress can be charted monthly, weekly or daily to determine whether the project is on schedule, whether changes to tasks are required and how those changes will affect the project.

Pull planning is a powerful tool leading to successful outcomes.