Planning & Break-down of Issues

A work breakdown structure (WBS)

is a project management system

that breaks projects into smaller, more manageable components or tasks. It is a visual tool that breaks down the entire project to make it easier to plan, organize, and track progress..

Overview

Coming soon!

What is work task planning?

Task planning is essentially breaking down your goals into tasks. It means figuring out every activity that needs to take place in order to achieve your goal, and getting them into a manageable plan that you can use to manage tasks and track progress on a day-to-day basis.

How to Plan a Coding Project (8 Easy Steps):

1. Define the Problem�Start by understanding the problem you're solving. Clearly define the project's purpose, target audience, and expected outcomes. This sets the stage for the entire planning process.

2. Set Clear Objectives�Determine the specific goals you aim to achieve with your project. Having clear objectives helps you stay focused and measure your progress effectively.

3. Identify Requirements�List down the features and functionalities your project needs. Break them into smaller tasks that can be tackled individually, making the development process more manageable.

4. Plan the Timeline�Create a timeline for your project, outlining milestones and deadlines for each phase. This keeps you organised and ensures steady progress.

How to Plan a Coding Project (8 Easy Steps):

5. Design the Architecture�Plan the architecture of your project, including database design, user interface layout, and data flow. A well-thought-out architecture paves the way for efficient development.

6. Choose the Tech Stack�Select the programming languages, frameworks, and tools that align with your project's requirements. The right tech stack can significantly impact the project's success.

7. Break Down Tasks�Divide the project into smaller tasks or user stories. Assign each task to a specific developer or team member to help with collaboration and accountability.

8. Allocate Resources�Determine the resources needed, including personnel, hardware, and software. Make sure you have everything in place to execute the plan smoothly.

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How to Successfully Plan Your Day as a Developer (1/6)

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"Work one day at a time, perform one task at a time, in the most efficient way possible."

• One task at a time�Anything left pending /Undone yesterday?
• If the answer is yes, this will become my first and most important task of the day (with certain exceptions). On the other hand, if the day before I successfully completed a Ticket, Pull Request, or Research just at the end of the day, then I go directly to the next question:
• What is the next task I need to work on?
• Once identified, while respecting the priority within the project, I proceed to make an estimate (if it hasn’t been made already). This will help me understand how many tasks I should include in what will become my to-do list for the day.

How to Successfully Plan Your Day as a Developer (2/6)

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"Work one day at a time, perform one task at a time, in the most efficient way possible."�What is the next task I need to work on?

• Once you have made the to-do list, start working one task at a time where you can apply a very basic rule: "Divide and conquer." This is how each task is divided into smaller and simpler subtasks, which you will sequentially develop one by one. The key to the success of a common workday is to concentrate during each subtask from start to finish, focus stubbornly and seek to finish it in the most efficient possible way.
• Anything else you should focus on today?
• Some days, spend some time on other tasks not directly related to a project, like courses, research, tech articles, etc. These should also be included in the to-do list.

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How to Successfully Plan Your Day as a Developer (3/6)

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"Work one day at a time, perform one task at a time, in the most efficient way possible."

• Take a break
• We are social beings by nature. Evolution has made us like this; who am I to go against it? Breaks during a workday help us to clear our minds, free ourselves of stress, and improve our work environment.
• Take some breaks
• Handle Interruptions
• When we are in the middle of a task/subtask, unforeseen situations usually arise and inevitably take us out of context. What to do when our carefully prepared to-do list is interrupted by an email, text message, call, or (terrifying) production error? Depending on the source, the required time for dealing with each one is different. For example:

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How to Successfully Plan Your Day as a Developer (4/6)

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"Work one day at a time, perform one task at a time, in the most efficient way possible."

• Production Error: Stop everything, go to the rescue, be a hero!
• Email: People do not expect you to check your email very often, much less respond immediately. So if you’re doing something important, feel free to ignore emails as they land in your inbox. Instead, have certain hours of the day scheduled to check your email or check them between tasks.
• Direct Message: In this case, the person who writes you is waiting for a response in less than 5 minutes. If it’s related to work, read it carefully and understand the requirements.

How to Successfully Plan Your Day as a Developer (5/6)

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"Work one day at a time, perform one task at a time, in the most efficient way possible."

• Once you’ve identified the requirements (from email or DM), you should take action according to the time it will take you, in this way:
• Task will take less than 5 minutes: Do it immediately, but not without first writing down where you left off in your current task, so you won’t forget where to pick back up.
• Task will take between 5 and 20 minutes: Respond, letting the person know that you have received the message that you will do it as soon as you finish the task you are doing. If possible, give an estimated hour. I usually do these requirements between tasks or before/after a break.
• Task will take more than 20 minutes: In this case, this requirement already becomes one more task for the day. Now you must evaluate if the priority of this task is higher than the ones you have written down for today. If so, include it in your list. You’ll probably have to remove another task — that's fine, you’ll do that one the next day. Now, if the priority of this new task is lower than what you have scheduled, tell that person that is not possible for today and that you will do it tomorrow. Usually you will receive something like "of course, no problem."

How to Successfully Plan Your Day as a Developer (6/6)

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"Work one day at a time, perform one task at a time, in the most efficient way possible."�

• To-Do List Items
• If this work methodology was useful to you, these are some of the things you would probably want to include on your daily to-do list:
• To-dos from the previous day (if any)
• New tasks
• Project Meetings
• Personal stuff
• Technical Research/Learning
• Keep in mind that the tasks must always be divided into subtasks. I wish you success in your projects. Work hard and have fun!

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Step 1. Identify what projects to prioritize

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• Business value
• Are we mending a broken relationship with a client we really want to salvage?
• Is this a new opportunity to partner with a client we have been seeking for a long time?
• Urgency
• What is the priority of this work?
• What is the level of importance of getting this work accomplished?
• Is there flexibility in the timeline for us to deliver?
• Cost
• Is there a large budget attached?

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Thank you.