Introducing the Project Initiation Document (PID)

Have you ever been part of a team or a group where everyone had exactly the same view of a project and the direction in which it is heading?

It’s quite likely you’re struggling to think of an example when this was the case because usually, everyone involved in a project holds a different view.

There are many risks linked with a lack of communication, trust within a team and clarity of the tasks within a project. All of these can lead to unrealistic expectations or conflict within teams.

To resolve these conflicts and project-related issues, we need to have in place a plan that acts as a quality control mechanism, to make sure that everybody understands the requirements of the project. Welcome to the Project Initiation Document (PID).

What is the PID?

The PID, also known as a project charter, is a document that includes the key information about the project stakeholders, start date, end date, scope, sponsor, deliverables and risks. It’s the contract between the project management team and the steering committee or sponsor.

Through providing this information, the PID specifies:

• Why is the project important
• What will be delivered
• Who will deliver each aspect
• When will it be delivered
• How will it be delivered

The four main areas

The PID covers four main areas. The first section explains the project purpose, objectives, scope, deliverables, constraints and assumptions. The second section of the PID covers the business case/benefits, timelines and project risks.

The third section of the PID has an organisation chart that covers the structure of the teams, the roles and responsibilities of the project team and the project sponsor. The final section covers the schedule of the project, also known as the Work Breakdown Structure. We can also create a Gantt chart to show these activities and the project control.