How to Use Project Initiation the EasyPM way!

To keep it simple - the purpose of project initiation is to draw up and agree a contract for the project. It is that easy!

The way to do this is to capture all of the known information about the project in a single document and get those who will benefit from, or are have the most invested in, its success to agree that document.

The document I suggest using is known as Project Initiation Document. Initially, all that you would be required to do is to work through the sections in this document and complete the information required.

Filling in a Project Initiation Document, or PID as it is sometimes known, will answer key questions such as what the project will deliver, how it will be done and at what cost, scope and constraints, risks, quality and controls.

By the time that you have completed the project initiation document, you will have achieved a good understanding of what it will take to deliver the project successfully. More importantly the areas that need to be managed and controlled more carefully to prevent completion of the project will also be clear.

If you would like a sample of the Project Initiation document that I use, it is stored in my EasyPM Google group. Take a look at it and you will get a good idea of the key information areas that must be understood as part of Project Initiation.

In summary, to initiate a project requires the following easy steps:

1. Gather all the known project information
2. Document it and communicate with project stakeholders
3. Agree what the project will deliver, when and at what cost

After shaking hands on all of that, you will be well set up to go off and create a detailed plan!