Project Initiation Checklist
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The document provides a checklist for ensuring a project is properly initiated. It includes key steps such as obtaining formal authorization, defining the project vision and goals in business terms, establishing timelines and deliverables, identifying roles and responsibilities, and gaining sign-off from stakeholders. Completing the checklist helps confirm the project is aligned with business strategy, scope and objectives are clearly defined, and there is agreement that the project is ready to begin.
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Project Initiation Checklist
- 1. Project Initiation Checklist Ensure formal authorisation and project linkage to firm’s strategy Anand Subramaniam
- 2. “ I keep six honest serving men, (They taught me all I know); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who .” - Rudyard Kipling
- 3. Project Statement Does it indicate what the project will cost? Does it state what the project will accomplish? Does it indicate when the project will be completed?
- 4. Business Drivers Is it written in business language? Does it "sell" the project's business value? Is there a compelling need to do the project? Does it have top management support to validate its importance? Does it refer to business goals, strategies, or objectives?
- 5. Project Vision Does it paint the future, once the project is complete? To a person unfamiliar with the project, does it reveal what the project hopes to achieve? Does it describe a shared and agreed upon future that all project stakeholders want?
- 6. Project Goal Statement Does it identify the project benefits? Does the statement establish the "context" for the proposed project? Is attainment of the goal immeasurable? (If it's measurable, then it's an objective).
- 7. Project Objectives Does it describe “SMART” outcomes and support the stated project goal? Is there a consensus agreement between the project manager and the project's sponsor?
- 8. Project Deliverables Is it a tangible product that, proves an objective has been achieved, or that, proves progress is being made on achieving the stated objective? Does it align with the context (object of study, purpose, quality focus, viewpoint) established in the project's goal statement?
- 9. Project Scope Does it clearly indicate what is included and excluded in the project? Does it identify the pertinent processes, entities, systems, customers & suppliers as included / excluded? Is the scope written in clear, business-oriented language? Is the scope consistent with the project objectives and deliverables?
- 10. Project Schedule Is there a project start and end date? Is it consistent with objectives, scope and deliverables? Have the constraints been documented and communicated? Have major phases, activities, tasks, milestones and deliverable dates been identified?
- 11. Project Cost Are project development costs stated in $'s and FTE (full time equivalents)? Has the on-going maintenance and operations costs identified and stated in $'s and FTEs? Have known resource constraints in completing the project, documented and communicated?
- 12. Project Roles & Responsibilities Is there a project sponsor? Does the sponsor have the authority to make the necessary decisions? Has the project manager and the team been identified? Do all parties listed, understand and agree with the defined roles and responsibilities? Does the project organisation chart reflect the reporting relationships and their time commitment?
- 13. Project Governance Does the governance model comply with client’s requirements for project oversight? Is there universal agreement on the governance model between all persons identified on this project? Has the governance model been discussed with and agreed upon by team members? Have all governance roles and responsibilities been documented in the roles and responsibilities section?
- 14. Project Approach Is it written from the reader's perspective? Is it documented at an appropriate level of detail (i.e. milestone, stage, phase, tasks)? Have known assumptions and constraints been documented?
- 15. Performance Measures / Metrics Have criteria for evaluating success been established (before the project is started)? Does it reflect the project goals or objectives? Has baseline data been captured? Is the basis for comparison consistent? Have timeframes been considered?
- 16. Project Acceptance Have the major project stakeholders been identified and listed? Have the listed stakeholders agreed to the above pointers, without reservations? Have they signed-off indicating their approval for the project to proceed?
- 17. “ A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step .” - Confucius