Project planning and rocket launching

When a rocket takes off, it takes off with maximum load and once it advances it sheds the load gradually. Similarly when projects takes off, the project planning load is very high and then it gradually decreases. When a project takes off a project charter is made, a high level scope is defined, the detailed scope statement is prepared, and it gets decomposed into a work breakdown structure. The lowest level in the WBS is called as the work package. The WBS is further broken down (decomposed) into activities and finally a schedule is developed. Once the schedule is done, the focus gets shifted to the project schedule, and the project is managed as per the schedule.

So, when the project is in the initial stages, the planning component is very high and it tapers off, as the project progresses.