3.1 Work planning

A work plan is a document that helps you organise and manage a media project from start to finish. It shows what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and who is responsible for doing it. Work plans help teams stay on track and meet deadlines.

What goes into a work plan?

A good work plan includes several key elements:

• Phases - Pre-production, production and post-production.
• Tasks – The main set of jobs that need to be completed. For example, "magazine production" or "film recording".
• Activities – Small jobs that make up a task. For example, "magazine production" might include write copy, source images and pagination.
• Workflow – The order in which tasks and activities should be completed. It shows how the work flows from one stage to the next.
• Timescales – How long each task or activity is expected to take, including start and end dates.
• Milestones – Key points in the project when something important is completed. For example, "first draft finished" or "client feedback received".
• Contingencies – Backup plans in case something goes wrong or is delayed. For example, allowing extra time in case of equipment failure or illness.
• Resources – What is needed to complete the work. This includes:
  • Hardware – such as cameras, microphones or computers.
  • Software – such as editing programs or design tools.
  • People – the team members or professionals needed to carry out the tasks.

By including all of these elements, a work plan helps media creators organise their time, avoid problems, and make sure everything is completed to a high standard by the deadline.