Approach 1: Assessment

After listening to the client and gathering relevant data, defining the project is very important.

This establishes a clear scope for the project that can be used as a basis for planning and evaluating the eventual success of the project. The following are the steps to use to effectively define your project.

Describe the internal and/or external situation (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) that brought about this project.
Give a brief description of the background that made a need for this project.
Define the goals for your project.
Identify stakeholders (key people that hold a stake in the project; e.g. someone who will invest money in the project) and resources (people who will perform the tasks necessary to complete the project).
Identify related projects that will affect or be affected by this project for consideration.
Identify criteria for deciding if the project is viable.
Identify constraints on the project.
Identify anything you have had to assume about the project.
Identify which of these constraints and assumptions are risks, and any other possible risks associated with your project.

From all of this information there is now a Project Definition (or Project Scope). Hooray! The next step is to Plan your project based on the project scope.