A predictive planning approach (also known as waterfall or plan-driven) emphasizes upfront planning, thorough documentation, and clearly defined stages of work. One of its key characteristics is that information is captured in standardized templates, ensuring consistency, traceability, and formal approvals at each stage.
Other characteristics include:
Sequential task execution
Emphasis on documentation and traceability
Clear role definitions and responsibilities
Reduced flexibility to accommodate change mid-project
This is different from adaptive or Agile approaches, which rely on iterations, minimal documentation, and continuous stakeholder feedback.
BABOK Reference:
Detailed in the Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring knowledge area under "Approaches and Techniques," where predictive approaches are contrasted with adaptive approaches based on their structure, documentation, and flexibility.