Let’s Kick it Off! – Project Launch

One of the most exciting times for a project manager will be the day a project is kicked off. Think of it as a bit of a reward for all of the rigorous planning that happens behind the scenes even before a project starts, much of which a project team may not be privy to.  It’s also an excellent opportunity to get the project team excited about the project.

A project manager must handle the events leading up to the project kick-off. If you are unfamiliar or have limited experience in project management consider enrolling in online training. In fact, you can learn core project management knowledge while setting yourself up for a project management certification.  Don’t have any direct project management experience yet?  That’s ok, the CAPM certification doesn’t require any.  Already doing some project management, then look at the PMP certification.  Many courses, both self-directed and with live instructors offer extensive project management training that can prepare you for the kick-off of your projects as well as earn you the education hours that are a prerequisite for taking either the CAPM exam or the PMP exam.

Let’s explore the stages of project approval that will kick off your project into a successful launch.

Project Planning and Approval

The life cycle of your project must be defined by a detailed project management plan. An established plan will result in a successful launch.

A well-organized project management plan will outline the following:

• Scope
• Goals
• Budget
• Timeline

There are various outlines that a PM can follow when establishing a project management plan for their launch. The outline that a PM chooses should be specific to their project. The framework of a project management plan is not one-size-fits-all. The plan must meet the objectives of each individual project.

The creation of a project management plan should happen before the execution of the process. In the first stage of the project management plan, it should be devised by the PM and approved by the associated stakeholders. This initial step establishes a direction for the project, ensures that all objectives are met, and that every party involved is satisfied. If there is no previous approval of the outlined schedule and steps then there is greater room for failure. The failure of a project will be attributed to the work of the PM.

Before your project kick-off obtains approval of the project management plan from the following parties:

• Higher Management
• Project Team members
• Project Stakeholders
• Potential Sponsors

The approval acquired by any of the following parties can be in the form of a signature, email, or other written approval. Formal approval is required to begin the processes of execution.

Project Kick-off Meeting

A project kick-off meeting is held just before the execution of the project begins. All involved parties should meet to review, discuss, and finalize the project. The PM should come prepared for the meeting with an organized plan that includes documentation of the predicted trajectory of the launch.

This is a meeting organized by the designated PM. The PM will lead and direct the meeting. The PM is responsible for inviting their project team, the higher management, and the project stakeholders/sponsors. Often, this meeting will have the highest number of participants in the complete launch of the project. Other meetings that will follow will meet in smaller numbers, discussing smaller, incremental steps that may occur sequentially to the launch.

Conclusion

While the most exciting part of project management is the launch of the project, there are many steps a PM must take before the initial launch can begin. A PM takes on many roles and deals with many behind-the-scenes jobs that are often not recognized by people on the outside. These hidden tasks and initial starting processes can be daunting but our outline of the planning, approval, and meetings that a PM must manage, should point you in the right direction to enjoying a successful launch of a project.

Understanding the information in this article is an essential part of project management and a vital part of the PMP exam. Improve your project management skills or prepare for the PMP Certification exam by taking a quality online PMP exam prep course.