Project Planning

What's in project planning

A construction project plan answers what will be built, how, by whom, in what order and to what standard. The templates cover those parts:

• Scope and setup: scope of work, job information reports and notices to proceed.
• Execution and quality: project quality plans and combined execution and quality plans.
• Resources: staff histograms, manpower loading charts and weekly planners.
• Procurement: procurement schedules and trackers for materials and long-lead items.

Project managers write the plan during pre-construction and share it with the owner, design team and superintendents. It is then updated as the project moves into construction.

Popular construction project planning templates

• Construction Project Quality Plan: set quality standards and checks.
• Construction Projects Execution and Quality Plan: describe how the work will be delivered.
• Scope of Work Template: define what is and is not included.
• Construction Procurement Tracker: follow every order to delivery.
• Staff Histogram and Manpower Loading Chart: plan crew sizes over time.
• Contractor Weekly Planner Excel Template: organize the week's work.
• Job Information Report: keep key project details in one place.
• Notice To Proceed: formally release the work to start.

Related categories and guides

Project Planning is part of Pre-Construction. Build the timeline in Scheduling and price the plan in Estimating. For background reading, see the e-book Development Planning for Construction Projects.

From the Academy: The Complete Guide to Project Planning, How To Prepare A Construction Plan and Developing A Project Charter.

Frequently asked questions

What goes into a construction project plan?

A typical plan covers scope, objectives, organization and roles, schedule and milestones, budget, procurement strategy, quality and safety requirements, risk, communication and site logistics. Larger projects split some of these into separate plans that the main plan references.

How is a project plan different from a schedule?

The schedule is one part of the plan. It shows activities, durations and dates, while the plan explains how the project will be run: who is responsible, how quality and procurement are handled and how decisions and changes are made.

Can I use these templates for residential projects?

Yes. Most planning templates work for both commercial and residential jobs; simply leave out sections that do not apply. Smaller residential projects often need only a scope of work, a schedule, a procurement list and a weekly planner.

Are these templates editable?

They are designed to be filled in and adapted to each project, for example by adding your own sections, logo and cost codes. File type varies by product, so check the format on the product page before downloading.