Define the Project

In this initial phase you will build the framework, or scope, of your project, including:

• why you are undertaking the project
• for whom you are undertaking the project
• what you want the project to achieve
• how you will achieve it
• when you will achieve it

To develop the scope, you need to take certain foundation-building steps, i.e., analyzing the needs of your organization and the target audience(s) and formulating the project goals. These steps will help ensure the following:

• Your project will meet the needs of at least one of your organization’s audiences.
• Your project is in line with your organization’s goals and priorities.
• You can make a good case for your project to stakeholders who can provide support.
• Your project will be focused on what you can accomplish within a certain period of time.
• You have a starting point for measuring the success of your project.

For analyzing the needs of your organization and of your target audience, you will be able to perform the following tasks:

• identify and analyze the gap between the result you want to achieve and the current condition of the audience(s), product(s), or service(s)
• analyze and select solutions to close the gap and achieve the desired result

In the last unit in this phase, you will develop specific goals for your project solution. These goals are the starting point for planning the project’s activities and the evaluation approach in the phase Plan the Project.

Within each unit you will find examples, exercises, and templates to reinforce the concepts and best practices.