FREE Project Plan Template
Master project plan timelines with our intuitive project plan gantt chart templates.
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Master project plan timelines with our intuitive project plan gantt chart templates.
Get started for free
Project management is both an art and a science. It’s also a delicate balancing act, with project managers and their teams attempting to balance deliverables, resources, tasks, and dependencies while creating an accurate timeline and addressing stakeholder needs and expectations.
While there’s a lot to juggle, the right tools can help immensely. A project plan template is a must-have tool that can support accurate project planning and so much more. In fact, project plan templates can mean the difference between a successful project and one that fails.
A project plan template is exactly what it sounds like: a template that allows you to plan every aspect of a project. After all, success hinges on your ability to plan accurately. With a free project plan template, you can remove uncertainty, address key expectations, allocate and manage resources, assign tasks, track dependencies, and so much more.
Within your project planning sheet, you should be able to identify the scope of the project, relevant goals, specific deliverables, and key deadlines and milestones. Think of it as creating a roadmap that will take you from where you are now to successful project completion.
However, it’s important to understand that all project plans are not created equal. For instance, a simple project plan template in Word or an Excel project plan template might seem like an effective tool, but the truth is that they fall far short when it comes to flexibility, customization, and ease of use. Instead, a project plan Gantt chart can offer the granular planning capabilities that you deserve.
Why should your project plan include a Gantt chart? Planning a project template is much simpler and more accurate when you include a Gantt chart. Here are just a few reasons that you should avoid an Excel project plan template and opt for a project plan Gantt chart, instead.
You can use a Gantt chart to create visual timelines that illustrate how long a project should take, and then balance that against actual progress.
Another reason to use a project plan Gantt chart is that it can be invaluable in planning task order and understanding dependencies between tasks.
All projects require resources and they’re not inexhaustible. A project plan Gantt chart will help you identify resources, allocate them effectively, and then manage those resources throughout the project.
Having a visual representation of your project’s progress helps you predict completion dates and ensures that you’re aware of approaching milestones.
You can use a Gantt chart to describe tasks so that contractors, subcontractors, team members, and others are on the same page about what needs to be done. In fact, a Gantt chart can help support the success of the overall project and make planning more accurate.
As you can see, a project plan Gantt chart offers many advantages over an Excel or Word project plan template. Tom’s Planner delivers the accuracy and planning capabilities you need to deliver successful projects.
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What can you expect to find in a free project plan template? The key elements of any high level project plan template should include the following:
The project’s scope determines everything else about it, from milestones to resources to the number of team members working to complete it. Determining the scope should be one of the first things you do during the planning process. Within the scope, you’ll want to determine the project’s goals and objectives, the tasks required, and the ultimate deliverables. Note that using a work breakdown structure can help you flesh out the scope more accurately.
Milestones are key points along the project’s path of development, and they should be included in your project plan template. Milestones help ensure that the project is on track for completion and that vital considerations are met, such as functionality, design, usability, testing, and more.
While the term “project management” applies to all aspects of managing a project from beginning to end, the process does include specific stages. Each stage is marked by unique considerations that must be planned for in advance.
Projects can be seen as a series of tasks that build on one another, culminating in the desired deliverable. Your project mapping template should include all tasks mapped to their stages, milestones, and dependencies.
Resources help you move the project forward. These can be materials, individuals, equipment, and much more. Templates for project plans should list all the resources available so you can allocate and manage them effectively.
A Gantt chart like Tom’s Planner makes planning and completing projects simpler thanks to its flexibility and customizability.
Creating your own project plan? Use these pro tips and flesh out a detailed project plan template to ensure accuracy and remove hurdles from the process.
Start your project plan by defining the project scope and establishing metrics. A project charter can help here. You’ll need to define the project’s needs, the specific deliverables, and how you’ll measure progress toward success, as well as what success looks like.
Key project stakeholders will need to be in the loop throughout the project. These may be team members, department managers, members of the C-suite, or other people. In a client-facing project, your client will also be a stakeholder (in the case of a corporate client, there may be several people within the client organization who count as stakeholders).
What are the specific deliverables the project is designed to produce? Note that you may have deliverables within different stages of the project that all add up to the final deliverable(s) at the end of the project.
Tasks propel your project forward. However, they must be time-bound and actionable. It doesn’t hurt if they’re measurable, too. What tasks must be accomplished? When must they be accomplished? What’s required for them to be accomplished? What resources are necessary? What other tasks are dependent on each?
Finally, you’ll need to assign those tasks you just developed. Who will be responsible for each? What makes one person or team better suited for a particular task? What is the anticipated flow of tasks? What communication methods will you use to ensure that those assigned tasks know what’s assigned to them and when they can begin working on them? You’ll also need to set deadlines. When are tasks due? What happens if tasks are delayed?
No, they’re not the same. All three are different documents used in the project planning process, however. A Gantt chart can be used to communicate information from the project plan and turn raw data into something visual and more easily digested. Kanban charts are also graphical in nature but are more useful for managing tasks and tracking flows.
A project planning template allows you to take a structured approach to project planning and management. You can ensure that all tasks are assigned and ensure steps aren’t missed. A project planning template can be invaluable for planning future actions, managing entire projects, assigning tasks, and creating and tracking timelines.
Yes! Tom’s Planner’s Gantt chart is a vital part of your overall project plan, although you’ll need additional documents to flesh the plan out and communicate everything to team members and stakeholders. Tom’s Planner’s Gantt chart can create a graphical representation of the project from beginning to end, highlight tasks, note dependencies, assign roles, and allocate resources.
Yes, they’re completely customizable! Our Gantt charts are designed to be as flexible as possible, so you can easily transform a template to suit your project’s unique needs, goals, and constraints. Plus, they’re easy to use, so customizing the template takes just a few minutes.
Many managers prefer to use a Gantt chart to a Trello board because Gantt charts are visual and can give you an immediate overview of the entire project, including tasks and dependencies. Gantt charts can simplify complex projects and help managers absorb information very quickly. They’re also better suited for fast but informed decision-making.