A "just-in-time" method for analyzing the work to be done. For example, first, plan at the staff-week level for the next month, second, plan at the one month level for the following three quarters (9 months), and finally, plan to the quarter year (3 months) for the remainder of the project. Each month the "planning wave" is rolled forward. . A project plan that provides more detail for the immediate future and less detail for the more distance future.