Forrest vs Tree - View Mode

Many times during the project as project manager, we need to have capability when we need to see 'Forest' or 'Trees'. In project management perspective, Forrest means a project manager sees the project in the global or high-level view. Trees means a project manager sees the project in the detail / meticulous view. Both views are required. Now the question when is the best time to see project in the Forest mode and when is the best time to see the project in the Trees mode.

Sample below will provide clear picture how to use both. In one of implementation time there always be testing period. The critical testing period is the period when user test the system/solution based on user experience, normally it called UAT. UAT has specific period and it is pre-requisites for Go-Live without UAT and approval from user, the system can not Go-Live.

In the Forest mode, a project manager needs to see the progress of UAT periodically to see whether it is on schedule or not (remember project management role), however in Tree mode, a project manager need to see detail project for each subject are of the UAT, say UAT has 8 subjects area. In Tree mode, a project manager need to see the progress accordingly, say using graphical format.

If there is one or more slow progress in the subject area of the UAT, a project manager can easily track that one and can act in the timely manner to solve the slowness of the progress and make the overall UAT schedule back on track.

So as a project manager, we have Forrest and Tree view-mode hence use it wisely.