What is a fallback plan?

Question

What is a fallback plan in a project management context? Is it the same thing as a Plan B (that is to be followed when the original Plan A fails)?

Should a fallback plan be taken into account into the original project plan? Can a project have more than one fallback plan?

Answer 1

Fallback plans are developed for risks that have a higher impact on meeting project objectives.In general, a fall back plan is an alternative in case a certain approach fails.However, Fallback plan differs from contingency plans.Contigency plan documented in risk register will be used when an identified risk is going to occur. Fallback plan is used when the contingency plan has been carried out but it is not effective.
Fallback plans can be documented as part of Risk Management Planning
The fallback plan spells out steps that will be taken to recover if the contingency plan fails, and it specifies under what situations and circumstances it is activated and subsequently deactivated.
You can read more about Project Planning & Fallback plans in the foll article:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb497050.aspx