The Project Initiation Document or PID, is probably one of the most important artifact, and definitely the most important document in the whole Prince2 methodology.

What is it? The PID is a document which details all the information needed to direct and manage a project.

Typically the PID, will have two types of entry, stable and dynamic. Stable elements are those that form the baseline information for the project. Dynamic elements are those that will be updated as the project progresses.

 *What the project is trying to achieve.
 *Why it is important to achieve it.
 *Who is going to be involved in managing the process and responsibilities.
 *How it is going to happen.
 *When it is all going to happen.

When? The PID is written during the Initiation process (IP). During the course of the project it will be updated at the managing stage boundaries (SB).

Lastly it is archived during Closing A Project (CP).

Why? There are two main reasons to have a PID. Firstly, to ensure the project has a sound basis, prior to asking the Project Board for a firm commitment.

Secondly to act as a baseline document for the Project Board and Project Manager, from which progress can be assessed and raise any ongoing viability questions.

Who? The PID is written by the project manager. The main recipients of the PID and the people who act on it, are the project board, the executive and the project manager.

How The main inputs are the suppliers project management standards, the customers specified control requirements. Much of the information should be in the project mandate.

Stable information includes background information and how we reached this stage. It also has project definition, showing:-

 *Project objectives
 *defined method of approach
 *project scope
 *project deliverables.
 *exclusions
 *constraints
 *interfaces
 *assumptions
 *project organisation structure
 *project management team
 *Communication plan
 *Project quality plan
 *project controls

Dynamic elements, those that will be updated as the project progresses are:-

 *Initial business case
 *Initial project plan
 *Initial risk log

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ITIL - PRINCE2