Project planning – Level 3 Environmental and Land-based BTEC Revision

Project planning is the process of defining the objectives, scope, tasks and timeline for an environmental investigation.
An initial project proposal should be created outlining the aim and objectives of the investigation.
The scope of a project refers to the set of tasks required to meet the objectives of the investigation. It should be detailed and clear to ensure effective planning and execution.
Best practice involves the creation of a Project Initiation Document (PID), outlining the intended approach and requirements for the investigation.

A project typically happens in phases as follows: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control, and Closure.
The initiation phase involves defining the project at a broad level, justifying the project, and identifying potential solutions.
In the planning phase, a detailed strategy is developed that includes task assignment, timeframes, resources, and costs related to the project.
The execution phase involves activating the project plan to reach project objectives.
Monitoring and control are essential throughout the project to ensure it stays on track and realign when necessary.
The closure phase includes the completion of the project and finalisation of all documents, as well as evaluation of the project for lessons learned.

Every project requires a risk assessment to identify potential hazards, who might be affected, and how to mitigate these risks.
Special consideration should be given to health and safety regulations in an environment-related investigation.

Gantt charts, PERT charts and CPM (Critical Path Method) are key project planning tools, useful for visualizing tasks, timelines, and dependencies in a project.
Other useful project management tools include risk logs, which record potential risks, their likelihood, impacts, and mitigation plans.
Regular progress reports provide a clear snapshot of where the project is relative to the initial plan, and inform if adjustments are needed.

After completion, projects should be thoroughly evaluated to assess the achieved outcomes, lessons learned, and the overall project effectiveness.
Quality Assurance (QA) measures should be in place to ensure that the project outcomes meet the set standards and expectations.
The final report should include a conclusion that evaluates how well the project answered the initial aim and objectives. Changes and limitations should also be presented and explained.