Work Planning

Turn client scope into owned packages and tasks that the studio can execute. The project manager divides an engagement into work packages with owners, estimates and dates. Each task belongs to a package and can also point to the project. The assignee sees a clear title, priority, due date, estimate and status. This gives delivery leads a path from the project promise to a particular piece of work.

• Define package scope. Give each package a project, owner, dates and estimated hours.
• Assign the task. Link each task to its required package and name the team member who will do it.
• Review status on the board. Move work through Backlog, in progress and in review; mark Blocked when action is needed.

For a campaign launch, the package might cover final creative production. A designer takes an assigned task from Backlog into in progress, sends it to in review and marks it Done after the team accepts the result. If artwork is held by feedback, Blocked makes the interruption visible in the task list.

Agree how to split packages, who can reassign tasks, and what Done means for each practice. Set a consistent rule for estimates and actual hours so variance is comparable. Check package dates before moving tasks into a delivery week. Agree how to divide packages and who can change an assignment. Define what Done means before the team starts using it. Record estimates and actual hours consistently so a package variance can be checked against its tasks.

Pick a blocked task and trace it to its package and project. Confirm that its assignee and due date are useful to the project manager. Move the task back into progress after the blocker is resolved and confirm the status board reflects the change. Compare estimated and actual hours at the task and package levels. Trace a Blocked artwork task to its package and project. Check the assignee, priority and due date before asking for the blocker to be cleared. Move it back to in progress after work resumes and confirm the saved task board and blocked list reflect the change.

• Task Board by Status — Groups tasks by the saved task statuses for daily delivery review.
• Blocked Tasks — Lists interrupted work with its package, assignee and due date.
• Tasks In Flight — Shows work in progress or review for the next team check-in.

Start with project setup for package scope, then use studio delivery for task and milestone handoffs.