"Plans are worthless, but planning is everything." — General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
This quote highlights an essential principle of project delivery: while plans evolve throughout a project, the planning process establishes the foundation for successful execution. In construction, where multiple disciplines work simultaneously, structured information planning is just as important as technical planning.
ISO 19650 identifies information delivery planning as a core component of information management, supported by three key elements:
- Federation strategy and information container breakdown structure.
- Responsibility matrices.
- Task Information Delivery Plans (TIDPs) and the Master Information Delivery Plan (MIDP).
Before developing these plans, clear information requirements must be established. ISO 19650-1 defines a simple but effective process:
- Define the information requirements.
- Plan how and when information will be delivered.
- Deliver the information.
- Review and approve it.
The TIDP is prepared by each appointed party and defines the information that each task team will produce, who is responsible, and when it will be delivered. The Lead Appointed Party then coordinates all TIDPs into a single MIDP, providing a project-wide view of information delivery and ensuring alignment across all disciplines.
During construction, the relationship between TIDPs and the MIDP becomes critical. Every activity depends on the timely availability of accurate information. These plans define what information is required, who will produce it, the required Level of Information Need, delivery milestones, and dependencies between disciplines. Without this coordination, projects are more likely to experience delays, rework, cost overruns, and coordination issues.
While the TIDP provides detailed planning at the task-team level, the MIDP offers strategic oversight by integrating all task plans into a coordinated project programme. This ensures that information from architects, engineers, contractors, and specialist suppliers is delivered at the right time to support procurement, construction sequencing, and decision-making.
Ultimately, MIDPs and TIDPs are more than compliance documents—they are essential management tools that improve collaboration, reduce risk, and enable efficient project delivery. By aligning information production with project milestones, they help construction teams deliver projects with greater certainty, quality, and efficiency while meeting the principles of ISO 19650.
