What happens in the Initiation phase?

Think about the initiation phase using the treehouse example. In this phase, project managers go through several steps to help with the planning phase. These steps include:

• Idea Generation and Project Selection: The first thing you decide is that you want to build a treehouse. You might have other ideas, too, like a playhouse on the ground or a swing set, but you decide the treehouse is the most fun and best for your backyard.
• Feasibility Study: Next, you check if building a treehouse is possible. You need to see if you have a strong and safe tree, enough wood and other building materials, and enough time to build it.
• Defining the Project: Once you know you can build the treehouse, you must decide what it will look like. Will it have a rope ladder or wooden steps? Will it have windows? This is when you determine what your treehouse will be.
• Identifying Stakeholders: The stakeholders are people interested in or affected by the treehouse. This could be you, your friends who might play in it, your parents, and even your neighbors.
• Project Charter: This could be a drawing of the treehouse and a list of everything you need to build it. It's your initial plan for the project.
• Setting up the Project Team: This is when you decide who will help you build the treehouse. Your parents may help with the hard parts, and your friends can help paint it when it's done.

So that's how you would start a project to build a treehouse! The initiation phase is all about deciding what you're going to do and planning how to do it.