What does the rolling wave technique involve?

The rolling wave technique is a project management approach that allows for planning in a progressive manner. It recognizes that not all details can be fully understood or defined at the beginning of a project, particularly in complex or innovative endeavors. By using this technique, planners estimate the current activities in detail while only extrapolating broader outlines for future phases of the project. This allows for greater flexibility and adaptability, enabling teams to refine their understanding and plans as the project unfolds and more information becomes available.

In practice, this means that the immediate tasks are elaborately planned and scheduled, while future tasks may remain vague, with more detailed planning coming closer to the time of their implementation. This technique is particularly useful in environments where requirements may evolve due to new insights or changes in stakeholder needs.