Determining the aim of your project is the first step of a plan. You need to outline what you want to produce and put it into a language that your reader or audience (often your colleagues, employees or team members) can understand. For example, if you are creating a project that aims to outline the effects of global warming, then you need to research all the information you can find about environmental phenomenon as they relate to global warming. Brainstorming with any other individuals in your group will help you to assemble components that need to be included in your research.
Come up with a list of outputs that your project will encompass. For example, your final output for a research paper could be five chapters on the effects of global warming, each dealing with a specific effect. In developing outputs, consider your time line and try to predict any hurdles in the way of finishing your project in a timely fashion, such as not being able to get credible information.
Assign a role to each individual in your group to decide how the work will be handled. Who will make final decisions and in what areas? One person will need to do the interviews, for example, while the other will have to track down appropriate scholarly articles and other research. If your project involves a presentation, someone in your group will have to develop art and a medium in which to communicate the project to the public, such as a sideshow or film. Some components of your project could involve more than one person in the group.
This component of a project plan is a necessary part of your project coming to fruition on time. You need to write down every objective or step of the project plan and the corresponding target completion dates in order for your project to stay on schedule. The schedule is a wide overview of the plan and will allow you to double-check if there is anything missing. Your schedule will be based on estimates, but if you begin to fall behind in any area, your team will be able to assess and pick up the pace or revise.