THIRUKKURAL 675 ON PROJECT PLANNING

Thirukkural on Project Planning 

It is wisely said, "Any plan is better than no plan". In modern competitive world, planning is the first and the foremost step to start any project or business. Effective planning with proper project will give birth to a successful project.In fact project planning is a part of project management.There are defined stages in project planning. In modern days Gantt Charts are widely used. It is a bar chart that explains the start and finish dates including the dependencies in project. This chart will help to monitor effectively the progress of a project.In kural 464, Thiruvalluvar gives a general guidance to be adhered before starting any project,

" The project in which the issues are not clear,
    No person afraid of public disgrace will start."
தெளிவி லதனைத் தொடங்கார் இளிவென்னும்
ஏதப்பா டஞ்சு பவர்.( 464)
தெளிவி லதனை = Projects in which the  Issues are not clear
Only after clearing all the issues ( existing and foreseen problems ), a project should be started. 
Before starting a project, consider the expenditure, the return , the profit  and then proceed,( 461)
அழிவதூஉம் ஆவதூஉம் ஆகி வழிபயக்கும
ஊதியமுஞ் சூழ்ந்து செயல்.( 461)


In the kural 675, Thiruvalluvar identifies five factors to be considered while planning,


"Treasure, instrument, Time, deed and place of execution,
   Consider well these factors and then start the action,"

பொருள்கருவி காலம் வினையிடனொ டைந்தும்
இருள்தீர எண்ணிச் செயல்.( 675)
பொருள்= Treasure, கருவி = Instrument,  காலம் = time , வினை= Deed, , இடம் = place

1)Treasure ( Capital or Stakeholders of modern days )
Treasure or capital is the foremost criteria, insufficient capital will abort any progressive project. In modern days ' Stakeholders' who sponsor a project are very important, potential stakeholders should be identified and a good relationship should be developed.
2)Instrument ( Man power, material and machine )
Instrument includes men with required skills sets, material, machine, etc.
3)Time ( Suitable period )
Time includes accurate Time estimation, setting dead line etc. Also Time includes season or period, YK2 project can not be planned now, its period is over.
4)Deed or Action Plan (List of activities )
Deed or action plan includes list of activities, preparation of priority list etc.
5)Place of execution , Suitable location to execute the project should be identified. Any farming should have good source of water, manufacturing should have effective transportation and labour cost etc.In modern context BPOs at India provide for the skilled labour at reasonable cost. Manufacturing products in China for low cast labour. Top IT Industries in Bangalore and Silicon Valley ( US ) for its good weather, etc

Considering all the five factors, a project should be devised, properly evaluated and probed to see whether the project will be successful or not. Successful project should be executed keeping in mind certain unexpected hindrances.In kural 466 Thiruvalluvat cautions that even  with a well conceived project plan, the project may ruin, 
"A project will fail, 
if a manager does what he should not and 
fails to do what he should" ( Kural 466)
செய்தக்க அல்ல செயக்கெடுஞ் செய்தக்க
செய்யாமை யானுங் கெடும்.(466)

செய்தக்க அல்ல செயக்கெடும் = If a manager does what he should not , the project will fail.

செய்தக்க செய்யாமை யானுங் கெடும் =  If a manager  fails to do what he should , then also the project will fail.

In another kural 676, Thiruvalluvar cautions about the hindrances that might arise while a project is executed.
Whether political or social or business enterprise, efficient project management is very much essential. But certain risk factors may slow down or detail the project, able and efficient management will lessen the chances. Managers  with substantial experience will clearly examine the various risk factors that might arise  apart from the fine finish of the project and expected profit or benefit.

Consider well the end, hindrance and benefit,
then fittingly start the project" ( kural 676 )

"consider well the hindrance " is the risk analysis", which demands successful  "risk management."

முடிவும்/ இடையூறும் /முற்றியாங்கு எய்தும்
படுபயனும்/ பார்த்துச் செயல்

முடிவும் =  Final outcome  or end , இடையூறும்  = Hinderances  , படுபயனும்= Benefit or profit
Consider the above factors and start a project
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