Rolling Wave Planning

Rolling Wave Planning is a multi-step, intermittent process – like waves — developed because we cannot provide the details very far out in our planning. Depending upon the project, its length and complexity, we may be able to plan as much as a few weeks or even a few months in advance with a fair amount of clarity (ZINK, D., 2016).

Summary

Rolling wave planning refers to the process of carrying out a plan on a project in the waves while the project is continually becoming smaller and more precise in its development. There are usually several cases of data overload in businesses, and because of such, failure has always been the result. When one is fully aware of what is taking place, then they are at a position to make decisions that are informed. As it is commonly said that perfect should not be one’s permanent enemy. Rolling wave planning agrees to the fact that there is a possibility to see something more clearly when at proximity.

The project determines the length and the time a project takes to be fully executed. For you to be productive, you seriously need details. It is also essential that you properly manage stuff that is important. There are several assumptions that one is not supposed to make while at the same time, it is necessary that one stops at every sign and indications that are not good and then make the decisions required to go on or not. It is also important that one becomes a mind setter in this whole matter.

Discussion

Successful project managers have learned the necessary tricks and approaches to the management practices to run the projects. These managers today can make a combination of the traditional agile methods and other important strategies to enhance flexibility and enhanced results for the whole practice. In today’s world where there are critical challenges for the managers to cope with various consequences some of which are unexpected, they need to put in some measures that will help them overcome such problems. One good way to handle such issues is to develop collaboration since the project depends on the contributions of the individual members (Laufer, 2015). The managers should also integrate Planning with Learning by using the role wave planning. Preventing major disruptions would also work perfectly well in such a case.

When these events that are unexpected occur, then several other tasks are affected by the same. Solving these problems the soonest possible is the best solution to such challenges. Dynamism is another major challenge that is changing many projects today. These problems which emanate from momentum are such as; difficulty in planning, short time frames, high interdependence level between projects, high customization levels, planning for outcomes that are uncertain, striking a balance between flexibility, reliability, and accountability. One approach to handling rapid change in the environment of the project is the attempt to make quick changes in the background (Collyer, 2010). The strategy of the new planning approach could also be used appropriately for this cause to cope with dynamism.

Annotated Bibliography

ZINK, D. (2016, ). Information overload and the rolling wave. Sarasota Herald Tribune

According to ZINK, Rolling Wave Planning is a multi-step, intermittent process – like waves — developed because we cannot provide the details very far out in our planning. Rolling wave planning agrees to the fact that there is a possibility to see something more clearly when at proximity.

Laufer, A., Hoffman, E. J., Russell, J. S., & Cameron, S. W. (2015). What successful project managers do. MIT Sloan Management Review, 56(3), 43.

In this article, Laufer is very clear on some of the challenges that affect organizations. In today’s world where there are critical challenges for the managers to cope with various consequences some of which are unexpected, they need to put in some measures that will help them overcome such problems

Collyer, S., Warren, C., Hemsley, B., & Stevens, C. (2010). Aim, fire, aim—Project planning styles in dynamic environments. Project Management Journal, 41(4), 108-121. doi:10.1002/pmj.20199

Collyner on the other hand brings out the concept of Dynamism in project management. There are several challenges which emanates from dynamism such as such as; difficulty in planning, short time frames, high interdependence level between projects, high customization levels, planning for outcomes that are uncertain, striking a balance between flexibility, reliability, and accountability.