During the Initiation Phase, a project is further examined for its strategic "fit". Understanding the organization's goals can help Project Governance in identifying proposed projects focusing on mission-critical activities as high-priority, and other projects peripheral to organization goals as lower priority. During this phase, an executive sponsor should be identified. An evaluation of the project's business case should be conducted, along with project limitations as well as technical and financial Requirements. A Project Initiation Workshop will be conducted to identify and document this level of detail. Further, a project manager will be identified and a "skeleton" or "placeholder" project schedule created in anticipation of, and for, the Planning Phase.

Objectives of the Initiation Phase are:

1. Identify detailed project objectives

2. Clearly identify business requirements and major deliverables

3. Develop high-level estimates of project scope,

schedule, and resources

Outputs of the Initiation Phase are:

1. First draft of the Project Plan Document (PPD)

Other outputs, or tools, are available for use to place or embed within the PPD.