278 Management skills A performance specification is required which indicates what the expect- ed outcome of the project is ­ how it should perform ­ and describes how it will operate. This leads to a project plan, which sets out: the major operations in sequence ­ the main stages of the project; a breakdown where appropriate of each major operation into a sequence of subsidiary tasks; an analysis of the interrelationships and interdependencies of major and subsidiary tasks; an estimate of the time required to complete each major operation or stage; a procurement plan to obtain the necessary materials, systems and equipment; a workforce resource plan which defines how many people will be allocated to the project with different skills at each stage and who is to be responsible for controlling the project as a whole and each of the major stages or operations. Setting up the project