The husband and wife syllogism of planning and scheduling is a good analogy. It was an ideal and fundamental point of view of interdependence. Planning and scheduling are from a single fabric. They are very much connected. We plan to schedule, we schedule to plan. Nobody could deny or ignore this deep-rooted relationship (Frago, P50 Risk-based Baseline Schedule, 2014).
Every time someone talks about a plan, he will have to talk about the schedule, for what is a plan without thinking about the schedule? The plan is the schedule's shadow and vice versa. There is no going around it if one is serious about his objectives. It is like Mutt and Jeff, Batman and Robin, one and zero, plus and minus, where each one provides better appreciation of the other. The concept applies to all aspects of life's undertakings.
It is difficult not to frown when anyone say, "Focus on planning. Forget about scheduling. All you need is to be a good planner."
Say your water heater at home has just crossed its twelve-year usage. You and your wife reflected on it, studied your budget and after looking at the equipment maintenance history, concluded that it needs replacement. After looking up how much it cost, both of you agreed to replace it next year. In the meantime, you also plan to save enough money pay for the equipment and its installation.
The question of timing follows right away in cascading level of details to answer the question when. From the plan, the purchase and installation can be set for August next year. It can be the first Monday of August next year, or August 10 (10 am to 12 pm) next year. A scheduled monthly saving of CAD 200 must be put in place such that the amount by August next year is more than enough to pay for the water heater installation cost.
You now have a plan and a schedule. Just imagine planning something without a schedule to execute. Is it not an exercise in futility? Attaining an objective becomes improbable if not impossible.
About the Author: Rufran C. Frago P. Eng., PMP, CCP, PMI-RMP is the CEO and Founder of PM Solution Pro, a Calgary consulting, product, and training firm focusing on project and business management solutions. He is passionate providing advise, education and training services through expert consultation, collaboration, and what he uniquely calls, student-led training. He has many years of international industry-related work experience in Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Oleo-chemicals, Sugar Refining, Manufacturing, Consulting, and Education. He has worked in various parts of the world (Location: Asia, Middle East, Canada, and North Africa). Rufran has worked with Caltex, Uniman, Unichem (now Cocochem), ARAMCO-KSA, Central Azucarera de Tarlac, Arabian Gulf Oil Company-Libya, Batangas State University, Saint Bridget's College, JG Summit Petrochemicals, Halliburton-Kellogg, Brown and Root, OPTI Canada, and Suncor Energy Inc. His expertise includes risk-based project management, risk analysis, planning & scheduling, cost management, auditing, maintenance, operation, EH&S and reliability engineering. He is interested in providing solutions and innovations to all clients and stakeholders. Rufran is the author of the books "Risk-Based Management in the World of Threats and Opportunities: A Project Controls Perspective" and "How to Create a Good Quality P50 Risk-based Baseline Schedule" published in 2015 and 2017. Mr. Frago is a Filipino-Canadian risk management practitioner. He studied at BSU graduating with a Diploma in Petroleum Refinery Maintenance Technician, and BS Mechanical Engineering. He was also a BS Management Engineering graduate of UB. He took up MBA courses under UP-PBMIT Consortium. Rufran completed Computer Technician Program at ICS-Pennsylvania, USA, APM Certificate program at SAIT-Calgary, and PM Certificate program-Construction Management. He is presently taking up PM Certificate program-Risk Management at University of Calgary. He was a recipient of the Gerry Roxas Leadership Award, the American Field Service (AFS) Scholarship grant, and the CALTEX scholarship grant where he specialized in Petroleum Refinery Maintenance. The author wants to share his knowledge and leave behind some legacy to all readers, most especially to his wife, children and lovely grandchildren, Eva and Mia.
