Session 3.3 - Building a Balanced Plan
Chapter 5: The Development Plan | Duration: 1 hr
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Define a balanced plan and why it prevents schedule problems
- Identify signs of unbalanced workload and how to fix them
- Apply TSPi guidance on task size (≤ ~10 hours)
- Explain planned value as a tracking tool
Introduction
Chapter 5 links plan quality to schedule success. A balanced plan distributes work realistically, uses fine-grained tasks, and tracks progress with meaningful measures like planned value.
What is a Balanced Plan?
- Workload fits the schedule and staff capacity
- Roles and skills are matched to tasks
- Tasks are small enough to estimate and track
- Unplanned work allowance is included
Balancing Workload
Scheduling problems often come from overloading a few engineers. Balance avoids idle time for some and overtime for others.
| Symptom | Impact | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| One or two people overcommitted | Schedule slips; quality drops | Redistribute tasks; pair work; adjust scope |
| Large tasks assigned to single owners | Late visibility on progress/risks | Split tasks; share ownership; add checkpoints |
| No buffer for unplanned work | Frequent fire drills; overtime | Reserve small weekly allowance per Chapter 5 |
Task Granularity (≈10 hours)
TSPi requires task estimates at ~10 hours or smaller. Finer tasks improve estimate accuracy, reveal risk early, and simplify replanning.
Planned Value & Tracking
Planned value (earned value) connects schedule and work completion. Chapter 5 provides examples of calculating planned value to understand whether the team is ahead or behind.
Planned Value Basics
- Assign planned value to each task (often equal to its planned effort)
- Earn value as tasks complete (or proportionally as milestones are hit)
- Compare earned vs. planned to spot variance early
Summary
- A balanced plan avoids overload, aligns skills, and includes buffer for unplanned work.
- Keep tasks small (~10 hours) for realistic estimates and visibility.
- Use planned value to measure progress and expose schedule variance early.
- Redistribute work when imbalance appears—don’t wait for late-phase crunch.