HKSM

A progressive, iterative planning approach where near-term work is broken down and scheduled in detail, while activities further in the future remain at a higher-level outline until they get closer to execution.

Key Points

• Detail what will be done soon; keep distant work at a high-level until more is known.
• Embodies progressive elaboration of scope, schedule, and estimates as information improves.
• Uses regular planning checkpoints to expand future work packages into detailed tasks.
• Balances uncertainty by preserving an overall roadmap while refining details just in time.

Example

On a 12-month facilities upgrade, the team fully decomposes and schedules the first two months of demolition and cabling. Later phases like commissioning and handover stay as high-level work packages with rough estimates. Each month, the next "wave" of work is elaborated in detail and added to the schedule and WBS.

PMP Example Question

A project manager creates a detailed task breakdown and estimates for the next eight weeks, while leaving work planned for later quarters as high-level packages with rough order of magnitude estimates. What technique is being used?

1. Rolling wave planning
2. Parametric estimating
3. Crashing
4. Scope validation

Correct Answer: A — Rolling wave planning

Explanation: The scenario describes planning near-term work in detail and keeping future work at a higher level until it is closer, which is the essence of rolling wave planning.