onplanning

Onplanning is a term used to describe planning that takes place during execution, rather than being completed entirely at the outset. It emphasizes ongoing updates, adaptability, and alignment with changing conditions throughout a project or program.

In practice, onplanning appears in fields such as software development, construction, urban planning, and event management, where requirements and external factors can shift quickly. It is especially common in teams that adopt agile, lean, or adaptive management approaches.

Key principles include iterative updates to plans, integration of real-time data, continuous stakeholder involvement, rolling forecasts, and decision making that balances short-term priorities with longer-term goals. Onplanning complements upfront planning by providing a mechanism to adjust scope, timelines, and resources as needed.

Common methods and tools encompass rolling-wave planning, backlog grooming, sprint planning, dynamic scheduling, and scenario planning. Roadmaps are kept flexible through continuous roadmapping and regular review cycles, with governance designed to prevent scope creep while supporting responsiveness.

Benefits include improved responsiveness, reduced waste, and greater alignment with actual conditions. Challenges include the need for reliable data, robust governance to avoid drift, potential confusion about long-range objectives, and the requirement for disciplined collaboration across stakeholders.

Related concepts include agile planning, continuous planning, and adaptive management. Onplanning is not a universally standardized term; its use varies by organization and discipline, but it generally signals a shift from static, upfront plans toward ongoing, evidence-based adjustment.