Work before project actually starts

[PBT]

A project is scheduled to start on a certain date, but there is always time spent on planning, etc. before the actual project start date
How does one keep track of that "upfront" work - should it be considered as a separate project
And how does one "add" that work back into the project when it actually is confirmed and starts
Thanks.

 

[John]

PBT,
How the upfront work is captured depends on how you want to use it. If
the time and cost of that work will eventually be rolled into the main
plan as "actuals" then I suggest tasks describing the upfront effort be
incorporated into the plan. The tasks can be laid out as part of the
schedule, (which means the project start date is really the start date
of the upfront planning), or simply identified as "to date actuals" with
0 duration but having the "sunk cost" value (the Fixed Cost field could
be used for this.)

If the upfront costs will not be incorporated into the main plan, you
might be better to set up a separate plan to track the effort.

Hope this helps.
John

 

[rom]

another consideration would be the effect of the planning phase to the project itself

If planning does not affect the duration, task list and cost of the project, you may incorporate it without any problems

If it does, you may want to divide it