PRINCE2 Authorize Initiation
Projects take time and money to initiate, so the activities for initiation should be planned, monitored and controlled….
The Project Board
The Project Board activity to authorize initiation ensures that such an investment is worthwhile.
When a request to initiate a project is received from starting up a project, the Project Board must decide whether to allow the project to proceeds to the initiation stage.
This may be done at a formal Project Board meeting or in an informal manner, if all members agree then the project manager is given documented instruction from the executive to proceed with initiation.
The Project Board may appoint project assurance to undertake some of the reviewing and assessing actions, for example reviewing the initiation stage plan.

PRINCE2 recommends the following actions:
Review and approve the Project Brief
- Confirm the project definition including key milestones
- Confirm the project approach
- Formally confirm the appointments to the project management team and that they have agreed their roles
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Review and approve the Project Product Description
- Confirm the customer’s quality expectations
- Confirm the acceptance criteria
Verify that the outline business case demonstrates a viable project
- Review and approve the stage plan for the initiation stage
- Understand any risks that affect the decision to authorize the initiation stage
Verify that the outline business case demonstrates a viable project
- Ensure that adequate reporting and control mechanisms are in place for the initiation stage and set tolerance for it
- Inform all stakeholders and the host sites that the project is being initiated and request any necessary logistical support sufficient for the initiation stage
- Authorise the project manager to proceed with the initiation stage
