Starting Up a Project Process

In PRINCE2 7, the Starting Up a Project (SU) process is the pre-project preparation phase designed to determine if the project is viable and worthwhile before significant resources are committed. It effectively acts as a filter to prevent poorly conceived projects from beginning. The process is triggered by a Project Mandate provided by corporate, programme management, or a customer. The primary objective is to establish the prerequisites for the project. This begins with appointing the Executive and the Project Manager, who immediately seek to capture previous lessons to inform current decision-making. Following this, the wider project management team is designed and appointed to ensure proper governance and decision-making structures are in place. Key activities include preparing the Outline Business Case, which provides a high-level justification for the initiative, and selecting the project approach (e.g., bespoke development vs. buying an off-the-shelf solution). These elements are consolidated into the Project Brief, which defines the project's scope, objectives, and constraints. Finally, the process involves planning the Initiation Stage, resulting in a Stage Plan that details the time and resources required to fully define the project in the subsequent 'Initiating a Project' process. The process concludes with a request to the Project Board to authorize the initiation stage. If the Board approves, the project proceeds; if not, it is stopped with minimal cost incurred. This ensures that the organization only invests in projects with a solid foundation and clear alignment with business objectives. In PRINCE2 7, the Starting Up a Project (SU) process is the pre-project preparation phase designed to determine if the project is viable and worthwhile before significant resources are committed. It effectively acts as a filter to prevent poorly conceived projects from beginning. The process is tri…