I am always amazed when I hear someone say, we don’t have time to plan we just want to get to the results.  I think clients are often frustrated with planning because consultants have used planning to use reams of paper and loads of time developing documents that are never used after the initial stage of the project.  The heavier the document, the more successful the project right?  Planning doesn’t always entail documentation to max.  However, if you aim at nothing….you will definately hit it.  You must aim at the result you are seeking to achieve and planning helps identify that result.  What many clients don’t realize is something can be done quickly if it is well planned.  Training programs are often part of an implementation that are developed quickly, some are effective, some are not.  The ones that are successful are those that are well planned and meet the needs of the client.  They can also be completed quickly if you have a method to follow.  We think of methodology in terms of implementations, but methodology has the root method which applies to every aspect of a project we undertake be it implementation, testing, training, or development.  There is an old Japanese proverb that I think of whenever I hear that planning is not important: ” When you’re dying of thirst, it is too late to think of digging a well.”  Don’t get to where you are dying of thirst in any aspect of your undertakings.  Plan and you can achieve results quickly.  Eliminate the reams of paper but don’t eliminate the planning.