Project planning for success managing responsibilities, thinking ahead and being organised!

Community groups/workers may experience hurdles with their projects because they have not anticipated issues and difficulties beforehand.

You could never predict every problem that may occur, however through adequate planning you can be organised and operate better.

Detailed below are some of the basic project planning questions/points to consider when preparing a submission and organising/managing a project:

1. Why? Why do we want to proceed with this project? Do we want to provide a new project or service? Is it clearly needed? What research do you have to support your project?

2. Who? Who will be assisted? Will it be everyone, or only one particular group? Who will be your target group? The demographic? Who will provide the service?

3. What? What is it that we hope to achieve? All people involved need to be very clear about what the service is going to do. What will we cover? What will be provided? What other services will we provide? What sources of financial and in kind support are available?

4. When? When will the project commence? When will it be held? Timeframe development - how long, over what timeframe, one off or ongoing? Sustainable?

5. Where? Where will we be located? Will it be accessible for all? Will it be suitable for our needs in relation to size, layout, welcoming, financial considerations, resources?

6. How? How will we go about it? Will it be manned by paid staff or volunteers? Will there be ongoing costs? Will there be other costs once the project is up and running?

7. How much? How much will it cost, at all the stages of the project? Can we afford it now? Can we afford it if the demand for the project/service grows? If the numbers increase? How much will we budget for costs? How much will we allow if the project increases from the original planned size?

8. What contingencies are in place - if we are not able to access funds that we are expected to access, what will we do? If any of the above doesn't work out, what will you do? It's vital to have a contingency (backup plan) in place. Always anticipate possible "hurdles" and put a contingency plan in place.

9. Ongoing review - on costings, strategies, progress, availability of resources (equipment, speakers, rooms and so forth) - how is the project travelling along? Is it within your timeframe/budget/plan?

10. Performance vs. Original business/project plan - is it on track?