The PRINCE2 Starting Up A Project process

Starting up a project process.

 

The main purpose of the starting up a project process is to act as a filter to only allow viable and worthwhile projects to proceed to the initiation stage.  The starting up a project process provides key base information to allow the project will want to make an informed choice about whether the initiation stage should be started or not.

 

Because of the nature of starting up a project, then this process will tend to be somewhat simpler and quicker than the other processes.  The objective here is to do the minimum necessary to prepare information for the project board to make an informed choice.

 

The project mandate is provided by appropriate senior management which PRINCE2 calls corporate management.  However, some projects may take place within a programme, in which case it will be programme management who issues the project mandate.  Which ever sauce, the project mandate should provide the terms of reference for the project and should contain sufficient information to identify at least the prospect is executive of the project board.

 

An outline business case is created to ensure there is sufficient business justification, and that the necessary authorities are designed and appointed ready for the initiating the project activity.  These authorities have the project management team.

 

The project mandate is refined and expanded to become the project brief.  The project brief will contain the project product description, the outline business case, and the various appraoches the project can be delivered are evaluated and presented as the project approach.  The documentation within the project brief will clarify any assumptions that must be made, the scope of the project, any constraints, top-level timescales and define the project acceptance criteria.

 

A plan for the initiation stage is created outlining the work required for the initiation stage.  Because of the nature of the starting up a project process, there will be regular and frequent interaction and consultations between the project manager the project board members and other appropriate stakeholders.  The contents of the project brief will be later refined and extended to become the project initiation documentation.

 

In summary, the activities to be undertaken in starting up a project:

 

Appoint the executive and the project manager

Capture previous lessons

Design and appoint the project management team

prepare the outline business case

Select the project approach and assemble the project brief

Plan the initiation stage

 

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