Hierarchical Planning: From Quarters to Subtasks

Effective project management requires thinking at multiple levels of abstraction. Kanbanboard.nl supports a complete hierarchy from strategic quarterly planning down to tactical subtasks.

The Planning Hierarchy

Quarters

Quarters represent your high-level objectives for a 3-month period. They help align your team around strategic goals.

Epics

Epics are large bodies of work that can span multiple sprints or months. They represent significant features or initiatives.

Features

Features are smaller, more specific pieces of functionality that make up an epic. They should be deliverable within a few weeks.

Tasks

Tasks are the individual units of work that your team members complete. They should be small enough to finish in a day or two.

Subtasks

Subtasks break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Benefits of Hierarchical Planning

**Clear alignment** - Everyone understands how their work contributes to larger goals

**Better estimation** - Breaking work into smaller pieces improves accuracy

**Easier tracking** - Progress is visible at every level

**Flexible planning** - Adjust at any level without losing the big picture

Best Practices

Start with your quarterly objectives

Break them into epics (usually 3-5 per quarter)

Define features for each epic

Create tasks as you start working on features

Add subtasks when tasks are complex

Try hierarchical planning in Kanbanboard.nl today!