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PRINCE2 2009 - Starting up a project part 5

Activities

Appoint the Executive and the Project Manager

To get anything done in the project, a decision maker with appropriate authority is needed - the Executive - who represents the interests of the business stakeholder(s).
The appointment of the Executive is a prerequisite to ensuring that the project is justified.

The appointment of a Project Manager allows for the project to be managed on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Executive.
The Executive may need to consult with, and gain agreement from, corporate or programme management when appointing a Project Manager.

Diagrams 1 and 2 show the inputs to, and outputs from, this activity.
For more details on project organization, see the section covering ‘Organization’.

starting up a project project manager diagram 1 smallstarting up a project project manager diagram 1

Diagram 1

starting up a project project manager diagram 2 smallstarting up a project project manager diagram 2

Diagram 2

PRINCE2® recommends the following actions:

  • Review the project mandate and check understanding
  • Appoint the Executive (the appointment is made by the commissioning organization - typically corporate or programme management):
    • Establish the responsibilities for the Executive
    • Prepare the role description for the Executive based on the role description in the folder ‘Roles and responsibilities’ as part of the product package
    • Estimate the time and effort required for the Executive role (this will be refined later)
    • Identify candidates for the Executive from the project’s stakeholders and select the most appropriate person for the role
    • Confirm the selected person’s availability, their acceptance of the role, and their commitment to carry it out
    • Assign the selected person to the role of Executive
  • The Executive to appoint the Project Manager:
    • Establish the responsibilities for the Project Manager
    • Prepare a role description for the Project Manager, based on the role description in the folder ‘Roles and responsibilities’ as part of the product package, and gain agreement from corporate or programme management
    • Identify candidates for the Project Manager and select the most appropriate person for the role
    • Estimate the time and effort required for the Project Manager role (this will be refined later)
    • Confirm the selected person’s availability, their acceptance of the role, and their commitment to carry it out
    • Assign the selected person to the role of Project Manager
    • Confirm the appointment with corporate or programme management
  • Create the Daily Log as a repository for project information that is not yet being captured elsewhere

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.