Most Project Managers come up through the ranks of an Information Technology (I.T.) department. They have mastered coding, testing. This experience helps prepare them to run projects, but there are still many unknowns for the new Project Manager. The official project request they receive is typically a vague, one-page list of objectives. In addition, I.T. Management cannot afford the time to guide the new Project Manager each step of the way. This paper will assist them in the initial stages of a project.

Defining the Project: Purpose

The first step in any project is to determine the purpose of the project. The project purpose should be a simple statement that is the guiding principle of the project. For example:

The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount of time it takes to enter an order.

Defining the Project: Requirements

With the purpose in mind...