Like a blueprint that guides construction, a well thought out plan of work is a critical component of your business case. The plan of work must take into account the existing infrastructure, funds, staff, time constraints, and other changes required to make your vision of the future a reality. The plan of work allows you to begin to identify the management model that will be used and the resource implications of that model. The use of a collaborative management model, for example, will involve activities and milestones related to creating networks of participants and conducting project activities in a collaborative way. The statement about your plan of work should also include a section on efforts to coordinate resources with other information initiatives in the area. The plan of work becomes a data source for the identification and estimation of cost categories and time estimates for the project.

Timelines are an effective way to show how long it will take to complete each step of the project. Fill your timeline with important project milestones, which serve as attainable short- term goals and evaluation points that keep the project heading in the right direction and on schedule. These milestones also help keep people's interest in your project, especially if it will span several years. Think about how you will demonstrate the achievement of each milestone as it occurs so stakeholders can see what has been accomplished with their support.