32 The Critical Role of the Functional Manager in Project Success organization resources. Many organizations struggle with this last point, so don't be surprised if your organization does, too. At a minimum, you need a project plan for the upcoming weeks to validate the ability of your project manager to manage the project. Without a plan to follow, they are most likely just reacting to daily issues that arise in the chaos. What Is a Good Plan? A good project plan should increase the confidence of stakeholders that the objectives set out for the project are achievable within the organization's parameters, particularly the budget, the time allotted, and the project scope or functionality. If the scope and functionality of the project do not provide strong linkage to the ultimate benefits the organization seeks, then the plan is fundamentally flawed. Let's start with the basics. A good plan clearly links project work