Project Initiation Phase
Project Initiation Phase (#26 in the Hut Project Management Handbook)
By Wouter Baars
The initiation phase begins with an idea for a project. No budget is yet available for the project. The goal of this phase is to write a project plan according to which internal or external financing can be requested.
Activities in the initiation phase
- Elaborate the concept.
- Examine the base of support.
- Contact possible partners.
- Investigate funding opportunities.
- Prepare an initial global estimate of the control factors for the project.
- Prepare a concrete estimate of the control factors for the definition phase.
- Establish project boundaries.
- Prepare a project plan.
- Apply for funding or establishing contract agreements with possible customers.
Output of the initiation phase:
- Approved and funded project plan
- (Possible) contract with customer Operations/Decisions:
- (Prospective) project leader
- Client
- (Possible) customer
If possible, installment financing is preferable to lump sum financing following the initiation phase. For installment financing, a relatively small amount of funding for the operations of the definition and design phases is requested during the initiation phase. Depending upon the outcome of these phases, a second request for funding for the rest of the project is made at the end of the design phase.
Next in the Hut Project Management Handbook:
Previously in the Hut Project Management Handbook:
Risks of Cyclical Project Management
Wouter Baars has a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Science. He has been a project manager for several years for The European commission, Waag Society, KPN (Dutch telecom provider) and many smaller organizations. He is specialized in creative projects such as serious game development, e-learning and software development. Currently he is teaching project management and coaching organizations that are working on their project management. More info on his work: www.projectmanagement-training.net.
Originally published by DANS – Data Archiving and Networked Services – The Hague
Thanks for the detailed list. So often, project managers focus on the start of the project, completely glossing over the steps needed to actually start the work. Some key items to complete during this phase are:
– Identify all of the stakeholders and qualify their objectives
– Formulate and agree on the project main objective (deliverable, budget and dead lines)
– Define and agree on rules of engagement