Perceptions of Representatives Concerning Project Success and Pre-Project Planning Effort

This research indicates a direct relationship exists between the level of pre-project planning effort and project success. 

Pre-project planning is defined as the process of developing sufficient strategic information with which owners can address risk and decide to commit resources to maximize the chances for a successful project. The process begins when a validated project concept has been identified during the business planning process and ends when a decision has been made whether or not to authorize funding for the execution of the project. 

Three conclusions were drawn from this research effort:

• Pre-project planning is an owner-driven process that must be tied closely to business goals.
• Pre-project planning is a complex process that must be adapted to the business needs of the company, tailored to specific projects, and applied consistently to all projects in order to gain full benefits.
• Corporate goals and guidelines for both pre-project planning and the project must be well-defined and aligned among project participants. Alignment requires involvement of operations, business, and project management early in the pre-project planning process.