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Rolling Wave Planning

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Rolling Wave Planning is an iterative planning technique in which the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while the work in the future is planned at a higher level. It is a form of progressive elaboration. Therefore, work can exist at various levels of detail depending upon its proximity to the execution timeframe. As that work gets closer, the details are refined and decomposed in more detail. This concept aligns with the adaptive planning principle of agile as it accommodates changes and refinement in the plan as more clarity emerges with time.

A Guide to Rolling Wave Planning (PMI-ACP Exam)

Rolling Wave Planning is a project planning technique that involves planning, scheduling, and delivering a project in waves, as the project progresses.

Importance:
Rolling Wave Planning plays a crucial role in Agile project management. It allows teams to remain flexible and adaptive to changes by continually refining and adding details to the project as more information becomes known.

How it works:
In Rolling Wave Planning, details of the project are planned only when they are imminent. It starts with a high-level view of the project and as time progresses and more information is available, the plan is modified and detailed.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Rolling Wave Planning: Remember, in the PMI-ACP exam, Rolling Wave Planning is referred to in relation to iterative planning processes in project management. It's mainly focused on short-term goals while the long-term goals remain high level. This makes it possible to adjust the project plan continually based on the project's evolving requirements and lessons learned.

1. Understand the Concept: Ensure that you understand rolling wave planning from a practical perspective. It is all about planning in stages based on the information at hand.

2. Real-World Applications: Try to connect the concept with real-world examples. This will help you recall the concept during the exam.

3. Answer from an Agile Perspective: When you see a question on rolling wave planning, remember to answer from an Agile perspective. This means embracing change and flexibility.

4. Think Iteratively: Remember that in Rolling Wave Planning, planning is iterative. You have high-level plans for further off tasks and detailed plans for imminent tasks. Each iteration allows refining the project based on new information.

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PMI-ACP - Adaptive Planning Example Questions

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Question 1

You have conducted a high-level planning workshop with key stakeholders to define project objectives and scope. However, detailed information is not available for specific tasks. What planning approach should you adopt?

Correct Answer: Rolling Wave Planning

The recommended planning approach under circumstances where detailed information is not available for specific tasks is Rolling Wave Planning. This approach allows for planning in waves as the project unfolds and more detail becomes available. This makes it most suitable in situations where work to be done in the near term is known in greater detail than work far in the future. The other planning approaches mentioned have their uses. However, in this scenario, they are not as applicable. Critical Chain Project Management focuses on resource constraints rather than task detail level, Program Evaluation and Review Technique is used for risk analysis in schedule, and Adaptive Life Cycle is more about responding to high levels of change and ongoing stakeholder involvement.

Question 2

A project team is responsible for the deployment of a new software system across multiple global locations for a multinational corporation. The project involves integrating several existing systems with the new software, and the exact details of integration points are not yet fully defined due to the complexity and variability of existing systems at different locations. Given the high level of uncertainty and the large scope, the project manager decides to use Rolling Wave Planning to navigate through the integration challenges. Midway through the project, a critical piece of integration requires immediate attention due to unforeseen technical compatibility issues, but the details of how to address these issues are not currently known and will require extensive research and testing. What is the best next step for the project manager to ensure project success while adhering to the principles of Rolling Wave Planning?

Correct Answer: Revise the project plan to include a detailed short-term plan for the immediate integration challenge while keeping the longer-term plans more high-level and flexible.

The best answer is to revise the project plan to include a detailed short-term plan for the immediate integration challenge while keeping the longer-term plans more high-level and flexible. This approach aligns with the principles of Rolling Wave Planning, which involves creating detailed plans for the near term while keeping future plans at a higher level to accommodate uncertainty and change. Putting all other project activities on hold to solve the integration issue is not advisable as it could significantly delay the overall project and may not be necessary. The project can continue with other activities while dedicating resources to address the critical integration challenge. Continuing with the existing plan without change is risky, as it does not address the immediate integration challenge that requires attention. Ignoring the issue could lead to further complications and delays down the line. Implementing a detailed plan for the entire remaining duration of the project is contrary to the Rolling Wave Planning approach, which recognizes that long-term plans should be kept flexible to accommodate changes and uncertainties. Creating a detailed long-term plan upfront may not be feasible given the complexity and variability of the project.

Question 3

Your team is working on a complex project with numerous dependencies. The timeline is long and there are a lot of uncertainties. Which level of planning would Rolling Wave Planning suggest in this case?

Correct Answer: Conduct detailed planning for activities happening in the near future and high level planning for future events.

Rolling Wave Planning is an iterative planning technique in which the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while the work in the future is planned at a high level. So, the answer 'Conduct detailed planning for activities happening in the near future and high level planning for future events' is correct. This approach is particularly effective for projects with long timelines and many uncertainties because it allows the team to adapt their plans as more information becomes available and circumstances change. The other options suggest either skipping planning, creating a detailed plan for the entire project at once, or only doing high-level planning, all of which would be inconsistent with the principles of Rolling Wave Planning.

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