Effective Project Management

Section A Project Launch

A project at rest will continue at rest unless acted upon by internal and external pressure.

Adapted from Isaac Newton

Whilst project launch is conventionally applied to launching the project execution phase it can also be applied to other phases that can be treated as projects in their own right. For example: launching a tendering and proposal process or launching a feasibility study. See Part III.

To launch a rocket you need to light the blue touch paper and release energy. Launching a project is the same. It requires the injection of energy and enthusiasm. Once you have your project in motion, it will only continue in motion if it is acted upon by internal forces – your leadership and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, for every project action, there is an equal force of inaction. Namely, there are always people who say, “You can't do that.” Consequently, you must be familiar with the rules of the company, not necessarily because you are going to use them, but because you are going to interpret their flexibility in your favour. If you bend the rules, you had better be right! If you are right, it is difficult for anyone to say, “You shouldn't have done that.”

The main elements involved in the project launch phase are:

• Building a team
• Understanding the scope
• Developing the execution strategy
• Developing the project plan
• Establishing the project infrastructure, facilities, and administration requirements.

Too often, not enough attention is paid to this ...