What it
is: Finalize Project Plan & Gain Approvals
Description
A project plan is finalized when it is formally
accepted and approved by the project sponsor and other
designated stakeholders. Formal approval acknowledges that
all the deliverables produced during the Plan Stage are
complete, reviewed and accepted.
Signatures on the project plan document indicate final
approval. This sign-off marks the plan as the go-forward
agreement and can be viewed as a project management milestone.
Rationale/Purpose
The project plan is important because it provides
baseline information such as the budget, schedule and management
plans for executing and controlling the project. A
signed project plan represents a commitment to continue
and to dedicate the required time and resources toward
the project. It ushers the way into the Execute and
Control Stage.
Who is Involved
Project Manager
Project Sponsor
Project Stakeholders
Result
Approved Project Plan
Signed Project Plan Approval
How
to: Finalize Project Plan & Gain Approvals
Recommended actions and strategies
The flow chart below describes the sequence of
activities that results in a reviewed and approved plan.
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1.
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Compile deliverables or results from all the Planning
Stage activities into a project plan document.
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2.
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Distribute the project plan to the Project Sponsor
and other appropriate stakeholders.
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3.
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Schedule a meeting with Project Sponsor and other
relevant stakeholders to review the project plan
deliverables.
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4.
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Make any changes from the formal review and finalize
the project plan deliverable.
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5.
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Ask the Project Sponsor to acknowledge if the
project will proceed.
(This is a “go/no-go” decision point. The Project Sponsor
should indicate the reasons for rejecting the project
if the decision is a no-go.)
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6.
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Obtain signatures from the Project Sponsor and
any other designated stakeholder
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Templates/Examples: Finalize Project Plan & Gain Approvals
Introduction
The table below provides several templates you
can use to help finalize a project plan and gain approvals.
