Inadequate Planning

Warning signs

Rate how often each statement is true of the project today. 0 = Never, 4 = Almost Always.

1. WS1.Scope is undefined, vague, or constantly shifting, with unclear deliverables, conflicting interpretations of success, or changes before the baseline is established.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always
2. WS2.Estimates lack evidence or analytical rigor and are based on optimism, expectations, or unsupported assumptions rather than validated effort.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always
3. WS3.Tasks and work packages are not decomposed sufficiently to understand the work required to complete milestones and deliverables.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always
4. WS4.Dependencies are missing, incorrect, or poorly understood, resulting in unclear sequencing, overlooked impacts, or late discovery of required relationships.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always
5. WS5.Risks lack depth, specificity, or realistic assessment, with limited analysis, weak mitigation planning, or untested assumptions.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always
6. WS6.Resource plans do not match actual availability or capability, creating gaps between planned resources and what is realistically available.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always
7. WS7.The delivery approach is selected without considering project complexity, uncertainty, integration needs, regulatory requirements, or organizational environment.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always
8. WS8.Planning is unstable, with repeated decision churn, unresolved alignment issues, or frequent revisiting of decisions without meaningful new information.
   0Never1Rarely2Sometimes3Often4Almost Always