Project plan vs problem solving

[Oogiem]

Are project plans and problem solving one and the same thing?

Not to me.

Project planning is what you think will work to accomplish your goal and how to go about doing it. Problem solving is for when Murphy shows up.

Example from my life:
Project plan is
Put scale into sheep chute
Run sheep into sweep
Take weights in chute

Problem solving is
Sheep won't step on scale because they slip so find a bit of pond liner rubber I forgot to put into the trash and use it to make a less slippery step.
Lambs can wriggle out under the chute and get into the wrong sort pen so get small jug panels and tie them onto the chute sides using baling twine.