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PRINCE2 2009 - Directing Projects with PRINCE2 part 18

Starting up a Project

Appoint the Executive and Project Manager

To get anything done in a project, you need a decision maker (the Executive) and someone to undertake the planning (the Project Manager).


Select the right Executive

The primary role of the Executive is to look after the interests of the business.
The project should meet a worthwhile business need and give value for money.
Therefore, the Executive is the person ultimately accountable for the project’s success.

See the folder ‘Roles and responsibilities’ as part of the product package for the responsibilities of the Executive.

It is important to ensure the Executive has the following four key characteristics:

Authority

As the Executive is accountable for the project, the person chosen must have sufficient authority and seniority to make strategic decisions about project direction.

Credibility

The Executive’s credibility within the organization will affect his or her ability to lead and direct the project.

Ability to delegate

A key part of the Executive’s role is to ensure that the Project Manager is empowered and ‘given enough space’ to manage the project, i.e. by ensuring that Project Board members operate at the right level.
Project Board members should not be involved in the detail of how the project is managed or in the specialist content of the project

Availability

An Executive who meets all the above characteristics is of little value to the project if he or she is not available to make decisions, provide direction and support the Project Manager.

Consider aligning the Executive’s performance objectives with the success of the project.

The Executive should have at least an equivalent level of authority to that of any of the other Project Board members.
Authority is not always the same as rank - it can be influenced considerably by factors such as ‘office politics’ which are rarely explicit.

Select the right Project Manager

One of the most important decisions a newly appointed Executive will make is who to appoint to manage the project.

The choice of Project Manager will be based on aspects of the project, such as its importance to the business, its urgency, size, duration, technical complexity, political complexity, type (construction, IT, product development etc.) and, perhaps, the clarity of the requirements.
These must be matched against the capabilities, experience and availability of candidates.

The Executive should also consider whether the quality of the working relationship with the Project Manager is likely to be effective.
For example, for a business-critical project, it is advisable for the Project Manager to have worked with the Executive previously and for there to be an established relationship of trust.
For a simple project, there may be an opportunity for the Executive to work with a relatively junior Project Manager for the first time.

Project Managers’ own preferences might also be a factor.
Some Project Managers prefer longer, more stable projects; others prefer shorter more volatile projects.
The primary requirement for a Project Manager is that they must have good project management skills.
Project Managers should not be appointed for their domain expertise alone (e.g. technical knowledge).

The availability of the right candidate should be given careful consideration.
If a suitable candidate is not available, could one be made available?
How would the impact of transferring a candidate from another project compare with the impact of not having the right Project Manager on this project?
Should a Project Manager be contracted from an external supplier?
What impact would this have on internal candidates?

Even if there is a mismatch between the ideal candidate and the person actually appointed, PRINCE2® provides the Project Board with a robust framework for delegation, which facilitates control.

All references above are in Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 unless stated otherwise.

PRINCE2® is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries.

This product contains EVERYTHING in the publications:

Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 - 2005 edition
Managing successful Projects with PRINCE2 – 2009 edition
Directing Projects with PRINCE2.
plus:
The Complete Project Management package.

And much more besides - at a fantastic price.