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PRINCE2 2009 - Directing Projects with PRINCE2 part 16

Starting up a Project

Context

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The aim of the Starting up a Project process (see the diagram) is to assemble enough information (in a Project Brief) to plan the effort required to initiate the project (in an Initiation Stage Plan) and to evaluate whether it is worthwhile initiating (in an outline Business Case).
These activities are regarded as pre-project.

The Starting up a Project process is triggered by corporate and/or programme management issuing a project mandate.

PRINCE2® prescribes that:

  • The reasons for undertaking the project are understood - see the section covering ‘Confirm the understanding of the project mandate’
  • Someone is appointed to be accountable for the success of the project and to provide ongoing direction (the Executive) - see the section covering ‘Appoint the Executive and Project Manager’
  • Someone is appointed to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project (the Project Manager) – see the section covering ‘Appoint the Executive and Project Manager’
  • Lessons from previous similar projects are incorporated – see the section covering ‘Capture previous lessons’
  • The rest of the project management team is designed and appointed - see the section covering ‘Design and appoint the project management team’
  • The outline Business Case is prepared - see the section covering ‘Prepare the outline Business Case’
  • The project’s purpose is clarified and agreed in sufficient detail to enable the project to be initiated - see the section covering ‘Prepare the Project Brief’
  • The activities to initiate the project are planned and approved before any significant expense is incurred - see the section covering ‘Prepare the Initiation Stage Plan’

Where the project is part of a programme, the Starting up a Project process can usually be streamlined.
The outline Business Case and the Project Brief may be created at the programme level and the programme will usually appoint some, if not all, members of the Project Board.

All references above are in Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 unless stated otherwise.

PRINCE2® is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries.

This product contains EVERYTHING in the publications:

Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 - 2005 edition
Managing successful Projects with PRINCE2 – 2009 edition
Directing Projects with PRINCE2.
plus:
The Complete Project Management package.

And much more besides - at a fantastic price.