The
Initiating Process Group is one of the simpler groups in that it is made up of
only two processes:
Develop Project Charter and Identify Stakeholders.
The way in which a project is
initiated, or begun, can make a tremendous
difference in the success of subsequent processes and activities.
Although many processes may not
be performed in a strict order, the initiating
process should be performed first or at least very early on. In initiation, the project or phase is formally begun, the
project manager is named, and the stakeholder
register is produced.
If a project is not initiated
properly, the end results could range from a
lessened authority for the project manager to unclear goals or uncertainty as to why the project was being
performed.
Conversely, a project that is
initiated properly would have the business need clearly defined, would include a clear direction for the
scope as well as information on why this
project was chosen over other possibilities, along
with a list of the project's stakeholders.
Initiation may be performed more than once during a single
project. If the project is being performed in phases, each phase could require
its own separate initiation,
depending on the company's methodology, funding, and other influencing factors.
There is a reason why this
might be
advantageous. On a longer or riskier project, requiring initiation to take place on each phase could help to ensure that the
project maintains its focus and
that the business reasons it was undertaken are still valid.
