Initiating a Project

Once the Starting up a Project stage is complete the project is approved to the Initiating a Project stage. This stage of the project is really the beginning of the project. This is where the project idea is explored in more detail and more elaborate plans are developed.

The goal of this stage is to better understand whether the project is feasible by planning it out in more detail. At the end of this stage the entire project will be planned and the detailed business case will be written. With the Project Initiation Document(s) (PID) in place, the project can be formally approved by the Project Board. 

Key Activities

• Agree to the level of tailoring for the project
• Prepare the approaches including risk management, change control, quality management, benefits management and communication management
• Prepare the project plan
• Set up the project controls
• Pull together the information required for the PID

Note that the PID is a very important document (or set of documents depending on the size of the project). The Project Manager is responsible for assembling the PID, and it contains the following items:

• Project definition
• Project approach
• Business case
• Project management team structure
• Role descriptions
• Quality management approach
• Change control approach
• Risk management approach
• Communication management approach
• Project plan
• Project controls
• Tailoring of PRINCE2

The PID provides all of the vital information about the project to someone who is unfamiliar with it.