Manage and control initiation

Purpose

The project organization is not yet fully defined in the initiation phase. Nevertheless, those involved are appointed and managed so that they can perform their tasks.

Basic idea

To carry out this task, the project sponsor appoints a project manager for the initiation phase. This project manager does not necessarily have to cover project management for the following phases.

The project manager performs all project management activities that are necessary for successful project initiation. If necessary, the project manager is guided by the project management tasks described in the following phases.

The project manager and project sponsor identify and analyze the stakeholders.

The project manager issues work orders, leads and supports those involved in the project, monitors progress and coordinates the interdependencies concerning the work to be done. Information on the project status and forecasts is supplied to project steering by means of reporting. Reporting ensures formally standardized information between project management, project steering and other bodies.

HERMES-specific

The project initiation order is the plan for the initiation phase. It forms the basis for the management and control of the project. The outcomes defined in the project initiation order and the activities are fleshed out with work orders.

There is no formal change management in the initiation phase, as the project objectives and outcomes have not yet been defined. If there are changes relative to the project initiation order that affect the outcome, outlay or deadline, the project sponsor decides on them.

Activities

  1. Hold kick-off meeting with all parties involved
  2. Provide infrastructure
  3. Plan and commission the initiation tasks, outcomes and resources, and monitor progress (including QA measures and risks)
  4. Create stakeholder list
  5. Perform stakeholder analysis and prepare stakeholder interests
  6. Inform project sponsors and other authorized stakeholders
  7. Determine framework conditions and specifications for reporting
  8. Draw up project status reports according to the specifications and prepare, conduct and post-process meetings, and take minutes; record decisions
  9. Continually coordinate project progress and important findings with the project sponsor
  10. Manage project staff and ensure goal orientation
  11. Issue work orders and ensure a common understanding of procedures and outcomes
  12. Coordinate the interdependencies between orders
  13. Check progress by comparing actual values with planned values and making forecasts
  14. Analyze deviations from what was planned and initiate measures
  15. Have changes relative to the project initiation order approved by the project sponsor

Relationships

Outcomes