Editing Project management (section)

===Initiating===
[[File:Initiating Process Group Processes.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Initiating process group processes<ref name="VA03"/>]]
The initiating processes determine the nature and scope of the project.<ref>Nathan, Peter; Gerald Everett Jones (2003). ''PMP certification for dummies'', p. 63.</ref> If this stage is not performed well, it is unlikely that the project will be successful in meeting the business' needs. The key project controls needed here are an understanding of the business environment and making sure that all necessary controls are incorporated into the project. Any deficiencies should be reported and a recommendation should be made to fix them.

The initiating stage should include a plan that encompasses the following areas. These areas can be recorded in a series of documents called Project Initiation documents.
Project Initiation documents are a series of planned documents used to create an order for the duration of the project. 
These tend to include: 
* project proposal (idea behind project, overall goal, duration) 
* [[Scope (project management)|project scope]] (project direction and track)
* [[product breakdown structure]] (PBS) (a hierarchy of deliverables/outcomes and components thereof) 
* [[work breakdown structure]] (WBS) (a hierarchy of the work to be done, down to daily tasks) 
* [[responsibility assignment matrix]] (RACI - Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) (roles and responsibilities aligned to deliverables / outcomes)
* tentative [[Project plan|project schedule]] (milestones, important dates, deadlines)
* analysis of business needs and [[requirement]]s against measurable goals
* review of the current operations
* [[financial analysis]] of the costs and benefits, including a [[budget]]
* [[stakeholder analysis]], including users and support personnel for the project
* [[project charter]] including costs, tasks, deliverables, and schedules
* [[SWOT analysis]]: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the business