How I plan a project backwards from a fixed go-live date

Draft outline. The full playbook is still to be written.

Start from the date you cannot move

• Fix go-live, then work back.

Reserve the fixed windows first

• For example, a mandatory three-month UAT period.

Fit in vendors and offshore teams

• Who delivers what, by when, in which time zone.

Working days only

• Public holidays and non-working days taken out before dates are promised.

Checking the plan

• What to review weekly so slippage shows up early.

Template

• A working-day scheduler may follow in the Lab.