Project Initiation focuses on:
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Defining the project at a high level
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Identifying stakeholders
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Establishing a project charter
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Determining project objectives and feasibility
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Securing approvals to proceed
Project Planning focuses on:
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Developing the project management plan
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Defining the scope of work
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Creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
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Building a schedule and setting deadlines
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Estimating and allocating resources and budget
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Identifying risks and mitigation strategies
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Establishing communication, quality, and procurement plans
2. Why is it important to engage in proper project planning prior to beginning a project?
Proper planning is critical because it:
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Aligns expectations between stakeholders and the team
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Defines scope clearly, helping prevent scope creep
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Provides a roadmap for execution and tracking progress
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Reduces risk by identifying issues early
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Improves resource efficiency, reducing time and cost overruns
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Sets realistic timelines and budgets
In short, a well-planned project is far more likely to succeed in meeting its goals.
3. What can occur if time isn't taken to fully understand project scope and requirements?
If the project scope and requirements aren’t fully understood:
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Scope creep can occur — uncontrolled changes or growth in project scope
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Misaligned expectations lead to stakeholder dissatisfaction
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Rework and delays due to misunderstood tasks or goals
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Budget overruns from unforeseen work or misallocated resources
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Team confusion and inefficiency from lack of direction
Ultimately, the project is at high risk of failure — it may not deliver the intended value, and costs and timelines can spiral out of control.