Page 96 - Project+

Initiation is the formal authorization for a new project to begin or for an existing

project to continue into the next phase. The Initiating phase is the first of the five
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process groups that PMI describes in the PMBOK Guide .
The Initiating processes include all the activities that lead up to the final authorization
to begin the project, starting with the original project request. This process can be

formal or informal, depending on the organization. The key activities in the Initiating
process are as follows:

Creating the project charter

Creating a business case and justification

Defining a high-level scope definition

Identifying high-level risks

Chapter 1 already covered the business case. You’ll learn more extensively about the
project charter, high-level scope definition, and high-level risks throughout the
remainder of this chapter.

Make certain you understand the key activities of each of the project
phases for the exam.

The Planning Processes

In the Planning processes, the project goals, objectives, and deliverables are refined
and broken down into manageable units of work. Project managers create time and

cost estimates and determine resource requirements for each activity. Planning
involves several other critical areas of project management, including communication,
risk, human resources, quality, and procurement.

The key activities in the Planning process group are as follows:

Develop a project schedule.

Create a work breakdown structure.

Determine resources.

Identify and plan for detailed risks.

Determine project requirements.

Write a communication plan.

Develop a procurement plan if utilizing resources outside the organization.

Develop a change management plan.

Define the project budget.

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