What Are the Benefits of Planning & Scheduling?

by Louise Balle, Demand Media
Explore the benefits of planning and scheduling for your small business.

Explore the benefits of planning and scheduling for your small business.

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In addition to proper organization, running a small business requires planning and scheduling, two key elements of effective project management. As a responsible business owner it's beneficial to set out a clear plan with an accompanying schedule so that you and your employees can accomplish your goals. Don't reveal the details of your plan little by little. It's best to write the plan down in complete form, distribute it to everyone involved, then make adjustments as needed.


When you have a written plan and schedule, it's similar to maintaining an ongoing "to-do" list for your business. Completing and checking off the items on your plan will help motivate you and your employees to accomplish your project goals. Each item you complete represents a success for you and your business. With the accompanying schedule you can also monitor and celebrate achieving that goal ontime or earlier than scheduled. Even if you don't meet that timeline, you can use the information to make a more realistic estimate for that type of project in the future.

Streamlines Communication

When you plan and schedule your projects, it also helps improve communication among your team. All members have the same guideline to follow when working so they are all on the same page. If any of your employees are confused about the process or timeline, they can simply refer to the written plan. As the manager, you can also use the plan for as a guideline when communicating with your team at progress meetings. Since everything is written down, there is little room for disagreements or confusion.

Keeps Costs Under Control

A well developed project plan and schedule also allows you to manage your project costs more efficiently. When developing the plan, you can list the estimated investment required to complete each step then calculate the total cost of the project. As you navigate each step on your plan you can monitor how closely you're sticking to your cost estimates, make adjustments and explore alternative options if you find that your original course of action isn't consistent with your budget.

Preparation for Unexpected

Another benefit of planning and scheduling is that your small company is better prepared in case of an unexpected occurrence compared with not outlining a plan ahead of time. A thorough plan contains multiple solutions—one as the main course of action and the rest as backups to that preferred option. If the unexpected occurs, you can then default to "Plan B" and continue seamlessly throughout the project.

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