PROJECT MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS   

	Directing a project
	Planning
	Starting up a project
	Initiating a project
	Controlling a stage
	Managing product delivery
	Managing stage boundaries
	Closing a project

Each process is defined with its key inputs and outputs together with the specific 
objectives to be achieved and activities to be carried out.

Directing a Project

Directing a Project runs from the start-up of the project until its closure. This process is 
aimed at the Project Board. The Project Board manages by exception, monitors via reports and controls through a number of decision points.

Planning

Planning is a repeatable process, and plays an important role in other processes, the main 
ones being:
 

	Planning an Initiation Stage
	Planning a Project
	Planning a Stage
	Updating a Project Plan
	Accepting a Work Package
	Producing an Exception Plan.

Starting up a Project

This is the first process in PRINCE2. It is a pre-project process, designed to ensure that 
the pre-requisites for initiating the project are in place. The process expects the 
existence of a Project Mandate which defines in high level terms the reason for the project 
and what outcome is sought. The process of starting up a Project should be very short.

Initiating a Project

The objectives of Initiating a Project are to:
 

	Define how the required product quality will be achieved
	Plan and cost the project
	Revise the Business Case and confirm it remains valid
	Ensure the investment of time and effort by the project is justified, taking into account the risks to the project
	Enable and encourage the Project Board to take ownership of the project and commit to the next stage
	Provide the baseline for the decision-making processes required during the project's life

Managing Stage Boundaries

This process provides the Project Board with key decision points on whether to continue with the project or not. 

The objectives of the process are to:
 

	Assure the Project Board that all deliverables planned in the current Stage Plan have been completed as defined
	Provide the information needed for the Project Board to assess the continuing viability of the project
	Provide the Project Board with information needed to approve the current stage's completion and authorise the start of the next stage, together with its delegated tolerance level
	Record any measurements or lessons which can help later stages of this project and/or other projects.

Controlling a Stage

This process describes the monitoring and control activities of the Project Manager involved 
in ensuring that a stage stays on course and reacts to unexpected events. The process forms the core of the Project Manager's effort on the project, being the process which handles day-to-day management of the project. 

Throughout a stage there will be a cycle consisting of:
 

	Authorising work to be done
	Gathering progress information about that work
	Watching for changes
	Reviewing the situation
	Reporting
	Taking any necessary corrective action.

Managing Product Delivery

The objective of this process is to ensure that planned products are created and delivered 
by:
 

	The Team Manager negotiating details of Work packages with the Project Manager
	Making certain that work on products allocated to the team is effectively authorised and agreed
	Ensuring that work conforms to the requirements of interfaces identified in the Work Package
	Ensuring that the work is done
	Assessing work progress and forecasts regularly
	Ensuring that completed products meet quality criteria
	Obtaining approval for the completed products.

Closing a Project

The purpose of this process is to execute a controlled close to the project. The process 
covers the Project Manager's work to wrap up the project either at its end or at a premature 
close. Most of the work is to prepare input to the Project Board to obtain its confirmation 
that the project may close.

The objectives of Closing a Project are to:
 

	Check the extent to which the objectives or aims set out in the Project Initiation Document (PID) have been met
	Assess to what extent all expected products have been handed over and accepted by the customer
	Confirm that maintenance, operation and training arrangements are in place (where appropriate)
	Make any recommendations for follow-on actions
	Capture lessons resulting from the project and complete the Lessons Learned Report
	Prepare an End Project Report
	Archive the project files
	Produce a Post-Project Review Plan
	Prepare a recommendation to the Project Board to notify the host organisation of the intention to disband the project organisation and resources.

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