There is a different quality to the information you receive when reading a piece of paper vs. talking to people. Depending on who you are you may gain more one

There is a different quality to the information you receive when reading a piece of paper vs. talking to people. Depending on who you are you may gain more one way or the other. Then there is the gap between plan and execution. A plan is only worth as much as the execution behind it. And with written plans you don't know the real authors and reviewers while when talking to someone you may be able to force them to original statements and can see their ability or lack to deliver them. Last but not least plans aim at completeness outlining the overall picture while when you talk to someone the dialogue develops a certain direction and has a thrust revealing understanding of the key building blocks of the plan.