As a project manager at DASH Management, your job is not just to plan for the current week — you’re responsible for keeping the team 2–4 weeks ahead of schedule. Why? Because projects don’t wait, and your team needs clarity about what’s coming next at every layer: product design, backend development, frontend conversion, and frontend API consumption.

This is where a granular execution plan comes in — it helps you break large deliverables into week-by-week steps that follow a predictable, repeatable sequence.

why plan 2 – 4 weeks ahead?

1. It allows you to prepare resources ahead of time
2. It keeps teams from waiting for each other
3. It reduces idle time between teams
4. It gives you enough room to adapt if anything slips
5. It helps manage sprint goals and delivery to clients with confidence

The standard flow at DASH

For most features in DASH projects, execution follows this pattern:

1. Product Design: Wireframes and high-fidelity screens
2. Backend API: Endpoint creation and logic
3. Frontend Conversion – Converting design to code (UI build)
4. Frontend API Consumption – Connecting the frontend to the production/staging backend

This means your execution plan needs to cascade naturally across these stages — and each week’s plan should take into account what needs to be ready for the next stage.

Required resources to plan accurately

Before you create a 2–4 week execution plan, make sure you have:

1. Concept Note (big picture)
2. PRD (full list of features)
3. FRDs (detailed breakdown of each feature)
4. Workflow Document (to understand order of actions and system flow)
5. Team Capacity (who is available and when)
6. Client Timeline (final delivery deadline)

planning format on google sheets 

You already use a streamlined Google Sheet. Here’s how it’s typically structured:

Feature Design Backend API Frontend Conversion API Consumption Owner Sprint Priority Status

Signup ✔️Done ✅ In Progress ⬜️Not Started ⬜️Not Started Femi Sprint 1 High On Track

Login ✔️Done ✅ Done ✅ Done ⬜️Testing Anita Sprint 1 High Blocked

Forgot PW ⬜️Not Started ⬜️Not Started ⬜️Not Started ⬜️Not Started Yetunde Sprint 2 Medium Upcoming

You can duplicate this sheet across weeks, features, or modules, depending on project size. 

Click Here to view on google sheets

steps to create a 2 – 4 week execution plan 

1. Step 1: Identify Key Features to Cover
   1. From the PRD, pull out all features that need to be completed in the next 2–4 weeks. Prioritize them.
   2. Example: Onboarding module (Signup, Login, Profile Setup, Verification)
2. Step 2: Follow the Cascade Format. Break each feature down into:
   1. Design tasks (wireframes, UI screens)
   2. Backend API tasks (endpoints, database, staging test)
   3. Frontend tasks (screen conversion)
   4. API consumption tasks (connect logic + UI)
3. Step 3: Tag Sprints and Priorities
   1. Assign each task to a specific sprint. Highlight:
      1. High – Must-have tasks (cannot slip)
      2. Medium – Nice-to-have tasks (do if time permits)
      3. Low-priority tasks (backlog-ready)
4. Step 4: Assign Owners
   1. Every task must have a name beside it. No anonymous work. No guessing who owns what.
5. Step 5: Set Internal Review Points. After each sprint:
   1. Review what got done vs. what didn’t
   2. Spillovers should be tagged and re-prioritized
   3. Adjust your next 2 weeks plan based on what shifted

keeping it working: weekly rhythm

1. Sunday Plan ahead: Prepare the execution sheet for the new sprint. Review your timeline, workflow, updates from the week, and update your tracker.
2. Monday Sprint Planning: Present your prepared plan. Let the team commit to deliverables and flag blockers.
3. Midweek (Tue – Thur):  Check-in with team. Review what’s not moving. Adjust if needed.
4. Friday Sprint Review: Compare plan vs. outcome. Update sheet with real progress. Plan for Sunday.

Prioritization tip for each task

You can mark tasks with labels like:

1. Must Do – Required for delivery, demos, or deadlines
2. Nice to Have – Can move if needed
3. Optional – Only if there’s time left
4. Spillover – From previous sprint, might be de-prioritized

TL;DR:

1. Use a cascading structure for execution plans (Design → Backend → Conversion → Consumption)
2. Plan in 2–4 week windows, not just one week
3. Use your sheets to make tasks visible, assignable, and trackable
4. Plan ahead on Sundays, not on the day of your sprint meeting
5. Always track, review, and adjust based on real-time progress