The purpose of this process is to define the overall parameters of the Project. This process is shaped by the development of the Project Definition Document (PDD), a narrative description of the project scope, including major deliverables, project objectives, project assumptions, project constraints, etc. PDD details how the project will be organized, managed and executed.

1. DEFINE THE PROJECT
HOW TO
PROJECT STARTUP

2. IT`S HARD TO DEFINE.
A LOT OF WORK GETS ACCEPTED
ON THE GUT LEVEL
PETER FRANCK

3. The purpose of this process is to define the overall parameters of
the Project. This process is shaped by the development of the
Project Definition Document (PDD), a narrative description of the
project scope, including major deliverables, project objectives,
project assumptions, project constraints, etc. PDD details how the
project will be organized, managed and executed.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEFINE THE PROJECT

4. The purpose of developing the Overall Goal and Specific
Objectives is to provide a clear picture of what the project is trying
to accomplish. It is also the basis for documenting the Success
Criteria that will explain how you will know the overall project was a
success. The input for this task is the Project Tender Document.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEFINE PROJECT GOALS, OBJECTIVES
AND SUCCESS CRITERIA
DEFINE THE PROJECT

5. The purpose is to clearly identify and ensure that the project
includes all the work required, and only the work required, to
complete the project successfully.
By clarifying this at the inception of the project, Project Team can be
fully aware when the project has scope creep - the tendency to add
activities and outcomes to a project without fully recognizing the
impact.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEFINE PROJECT SCOPE
DEFINE THE PROJECT

6. The Project Work Breakdown Structure is an outcome-oriented
analysis of the work involved in the project and defines the total
scope of the project. It is a foundation document in project
management because it provides the basis for planning and
managing the project programme, budget and requests for any
changes or deviations from plans.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEVELOP
WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE
DEFINE THE PROJECT

7. Basic Construction Planning establishes the broad framework of
decisions about construction of the building and is normally
completed before construction starts, and must precede Production
Planning.
(Refer a separate guide: “Basic Construction Planning Guidelines”)
PROJECT STARTUP
COMPLETE
BASIC CONSTRUCTION PLANNING
DEFINE THE PROJECT

8. A Project Schedule is a calendar-based representation of work that
will be accomplished during a project.This task requires Project
Manager to (a) identify the key deliverables and milestones for the
project at a high level of detail, (b) provide a brief but relevant
description for each deliverable and milestone, and (c) construct the
timeline
Developing a programme means determining the start and end
dates for all tasks required to complete the project. The High Level
Schedule should include key deliverables and milestones.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEVELOP HIGH-LEVEL MILESTONES
AND TIMELINE SCHEDULE
DEFINE THE PROJECT

9. Assumptions are factors that, for planning purposes, are considered
to be true, real, or certain. It is vital that the assumptions involved in a
construction project be outlined in the plan.
It is particularly important to list assumptions in developing
estimates that form the basis for the project’s budget. These
assumptions and bases of estimates often become the baseline for
determining changes to the work.
PROJECT STARTUP
EXAMINE AND RECORD
PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS
DEFINE THE PROJECT

10. Stakeholder analysis and management is a critical part of every
project. Stakeholders include all individuals, groups, and entities
internal or external to your organization that contribute to the project
or are impacted by, or can impact, the outcomes of the project.
This task requires Project Manager to (a) identify all Key
Stakeholders, (b) list all the major activities of the project, (c) code the
responsibility matrix, and (d) incorporate the responsibility matrix in
the project rules
PROJECT STARTUP
IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT
STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVEMENT
DEFINE THE PROJECT

11. A Communications Strategy defines a high-level plan for how
members of the project will communicate during the course of the
project. Purpose of the Communication Strategy is to document how
information will be disseminated to and received from all
stakeholders in the Project. It identifies the means/medium and
frequency of communication between the different parties and is
used to establish and manage on-going communications throughout
a project.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEFINE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
DEFINE THE PROJECT

12. Governance refers to the set of policies, regulations, functions,
processes, procedures and responsibilities that define the
establishment, management and control of a project.
The Organization Chart of a project should describe the manner in
which it will function.
Agreeing on the project organizational structure is a critical step for
the project. It brings clarity to the Project Team on accountabilities
and it is used later when we define the management approaches on
how issues are escalated and the change control processes.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEFINE PROJECT GOVERNANCE AND
RESOURCING STRATEGY
DEFINE THE PROJECT

13. Using available tools, the Project Manager calculates the preliminary
budget that will be required to complete project activities. All aspects
of the project, including the cost of human resources, plant &
equipment, materials, consultants, subcontractors and supplies,
should be incorporated. At this point information may be presented at
a summary level; to be refined during Project Planning, as more
detailed information becomes known
PROJECT STARTUP
DEVELOP HIGH-LEVEL BUDGET
(AND ESTABLISH BENEFITS)
DEFINE THE PROJECT

14. All of the following Management Approaches should be documented
(and refined during Project Planning and the course of the project):
MODE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
ISSUE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
CHANGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
REPORTING
PROJECT STARTUP
DEFINE MANAGEMENT APPROACHES
DEFINE THE PROJECT

15. This task requires Project Manager to (a) determine general areas of
risk for the project, (b) assess stakeholder tolerance for accepting each
area of risk identified for the project, (c) determine risk management
objectives, and (d) identify risk management decision makers.
Risk planning is the process of deciding how to approach and plan the
risk management activities for a project.
PROJECT STARTUP
DEVELOP HIGH LEVEL RISK PLAN
DEFINE THE PROJECT

16. The Project Definition Document (PDD) is a collection of information
used to describe the environment that will govern the project and set
the overall parameters of the project. It is the key deliverable
produced during Project Startup.
This initial plan will be refined during Project Planning and iteratively
throughout the entire project management lifecycle and will serve as
the main guide to follow during Project Execution and Control.
PROJECT STARTUP
PRODUCE
PROJECT DEFINITION DOCUMENT
DEFINE THE PROJECT

17. Templates used to manage this phase of the Project:
Basic Construction Planning Guidelines
Project Issues Log
Request for Change Log
Impact Analysis Statement
Project Status Report
Project Risk Register
Project Definition Document (PDD)
PROJECT STARTUP
TEMPLATES
DEFINE THE PROJECT

18. pmSPEC© is the project management framework for construction
industry based on the best practice industry standards for project
management: the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) and Prince2®, and has
been enhanced to incorporate construction project specific
processes.
pmSPEC© provides a summary of themes, that in the author's
experience, have proved critical in the successful implementation of
project management methodologies. It draws on the expertise of
project management professionals and provides a guide to deliver a
methodology that increases the chances of project success.
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19. Thank you for visiting the pmSPEC© page and the interest you
showed in the project management guidelines.
The goal of pmSPEC© is to institute a scalable framework of industry
standard best practices to support and promote the successful
delivery of construction projects.
We appreciate and welcome any constructive comments or
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