Planning is essential. We use all the technology available to us, from planning and management tools to CAD and BIM, but for me, what really matters is not the software. It is the methodology.
I always say we need to be very Germanic when we plan and very Mediterranean when we react. We need a clear, organized, and detailed structure, but we also need the ability to step outside the plan when the reality of the project requires it and, most importantly, know how to get back to it.
It may sound paradoxical, but we need to plan for the unexpected. Our accumulated experience allows us to anticipate the kinds of situations that may come up and build enough flexibility into the plan to absorb them without losing sight of the goal.
The key is making sure a surprise does not automatically become a crisis. That requires methodology, judgment, and a team that can respond in a coordinated way.