1.7 REVIEWING THE PROJECT INITIATION PHASE

This section presents a summary Checklist that can be used for reviewing the tasks of each stage of the Initiation Phase in order to ensure that all parameters have been taken into account and the proposed approach to meeting the business needs has been adequately examined and proved to be effective and feasible. Therefore, this Checklist can be used at the end of each stage, as well as at the end of the Project Initiation Phase to facilitate the involved personnel to perform their tasks (e.g. the design team to develop and justify the Business Case, the Project Manager to prepare the Project Fiche and the senior management of the Project Owner to check whether all the elements of the project have been appropriately defined in order to give their approval for implementing the project).

A/A

Critical Questions

Yes

N/A15 [ N/A = Not Applicable ]

Inception & Prioritising Stage

Is there a clear understanding of the business problem(s) or need(s)? Have you shared views with stakeholders?

Has the problem(s) been analysed?

Is there an adequate documentation or information to support the analysis?

Have the priorities for solving the identified problems or covering the identified needs been set?

Has the project/ investment with the highest priority been selected?

Has a project design team been appointed?

Is the project design team provided with a down-to-earth needs assessment, an innovative concept for improvement of the current situation, a proposal for the institutional framework and a realistic idea for funding?

Design Stage

Is there only one option meeting the business needs?

Have the alternative ways of funding been considered?

If there are several options, have they been appraised in relation to the anticipated costs & benefits? (i.e. Has a Cost/Benefit Analysis been performed?)

If there are several options, have they been appraised in relation to their likelihood to achieve the expected outcome? (i.e. Has a Feasibility Study been performed?)

If there are several options, have they been appraised in relation to the associated risks and assumptions? (i.e. Has a Risk Assessment been performed?)

Is the Business Case complete?

Is the preferred/ recommended solution selected?

Have the Executive and Project Manager been appointed?

Do the Executive and the Project Manager possess the qualifications and skills needed for the performance of their duties?

Have the project objectives been clearly set? Do they specify the direct benefits that the target group will derive the implementation of the project?

Are the objectives set consistent with the problem analysis?

Do the project results/outcomes/deliverables describe tangible improvements to the problem?

Has the project been broken down into smaller components/ activities?

Is procurement needed to implement the project?

If procurement is necessary, has the number of contracts been defined?

Are there components/activities for which support/advice from external specialists is needed?

Is the provisional project budget estimated (including both internal and external costs)?

Are the funding sources described and analysed (including their % contribution in the total budget)?

Is there a clearly defined project organisation with agreed roles and responsibilities?

Have the most important risks for the whole project lifecycle been identified?

Has the impact of the risks on the project scope, timescale, deliverable, benefits and resources been assessed?

Is the Project Fiche prepared? Are all sections of the Project Fiche completed?

Project Approval & Appointment of Project Management Team

Has the Project Fiche been approved?

Have the remaining members of the Project Management Team been selected?