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Project Initiation

Participant’s Notes:

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©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

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 Project Initiation

• The purpose of project initiation is to

Participant’s Notes: encourage a governance process to
provide:
__________________________________
• Discipline (methodology and
__________________________________ approval)

__________________________________ • Project/program selection criteria

__________________________________ • Financial/strategic/value analysis

• Prioritization in terms of value to

__________________________________
project owner
__________________________________
• Selection among multiple
__________________________________ projects/ programs

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©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

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 Project Initiation

Participant’s Notes: Project selection methods are used to measure

the value or attractiveness of a project to the
_________________________ sponsor or organization’s decision makers.
Decision criteria are used to calculate project
_________________________ value under uncertainty. This requirement
means that a process is required to determine
the possible outcomes of a project or projects
_________________________
before detailed planning begins. Risks must be
considered and compared with other projects to
_________________________ select projects that will provide optimal results.
This process includes considering alternative
_________________________ ways of implementing a project. There are
generally two basic categories for project
_________________________ selection methods:
• Benefit measurement methods (above,
_________________________ and following examples)
• Mathematical models (later in this section)
Benefit measurement is a comparative approach
_________________________
using some type of scoring model, assessment
of benefits associated with the project or an
_________________________ economic analysis.

©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

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Participant’s Notes:
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©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd
Project Initiation
Business objectives drive the
project; they provide the measures
of ultimate project success. What
happens if business objectives are
unclear? Project objectives are the
means to the end of business
objectives. What happens if
project objectives are unclear?
Requirements and scope
management transfers knowledge
from the users and customers to
the product developers and the
project team. This facilitates
effective decision making by both
clients and senior management.
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 Project Initiation

Participant’s Notes:

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______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

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______________________________

______________________________

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©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

Project Initiation 3-7


Participant’s Notes:
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______________________________
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______________________________
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______________________________
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©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd
Project Initiation
Project Initiation
• In a large complex project, it may be
necessary to prepare all of the above
documents. However, it is up to the
project manager to decide whether to
merge documents to minimize
unnecessary effort, and to ensure that
documentation is sufficient to avoid
rework later in the project.
• The contents of earlier documents
should be carried forward to
subsequent documents and updated as
needed. There is no need to keep
earlier documents up to date if
subsequent documents carry updated
information in a form that enables
executives and others to get a high-
level view of the project and product
scope.
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 Project Initiation

• An idea for a project is developed or a need is discussed, and a project

request is prepared for submittal to the selection board, approval team,
or project governance board (Steering Committee). The originators of
the project request will provide the selection board with the level of
detail necessary to determine if the project will be approved.
• The originator gathers information about the project to answer the
following questions:
• What is the driving need for the project? For example, the project will
improve the turnaround time on an order fulfillment process.

• What is the connection to the corporate strategy? For example, the

project will position the company for entry into a new market.

• What problem will it solve? For example, the project will improve the
quality of a product that has resulted in customer dissatisfaction.

• What benefits will be realized? For example, the project will increase
revenue or result in substantial savings.
• If the selection board agrees, the benefits presented merit introducing
the project into the project portfolio, the project charter announces that
decision and empowers the project manager to lead the effort.

©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

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 Project Initiation

Participant’s Notes:

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

• The project management plan is the document that describes how the
project will be executed, monitored, and controlled.
• PMBOK® Guide – Fifth Edition, Glossary
• The project management plan integrates and consolidates all of the
subsidiary management plans and baselines from the planning
processes. Project baselines include, but are not limited to scope,
schedule and cost baselines. For example, in IT projects there may be
other baselines that need to be set, such as a “frozen” set of
requirements to allow development to move forward. Subsidiary plans
are derived from the ten knowledge areas and discuss “how” these
elements should be managed.

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 Project Initiation

Participant’s Notes:

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©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

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 Project Initiation

Participant’s Notes:

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

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©2015 Holcim Technology Ltd

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 Project Initiation

Participant’s Notes:

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______________________________

______________________________

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Project Initiation 3-14

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