Page 94 -

4 - PROJECT INTEGRATION MANAGEMENT

Projects are initiated by an entity external to the project such as a sponsor, program or project management
office (PMO) staff person, or a portfolio governing body chairperson or authorized representative. The project
initiator or sponsor should be at the level that is appropriate to procure funding and commit resources to the
project. Projects are initiated due to internal business needs or external influences. These needs or influences
often trigger the creation of a needs analysis, feasibility study, business case, or description of the situation that
the project will address. Chartering a project validates alignment of the project to the strategy and ongoing work of
the organization. A project charter is not considered to be a contract, because there is no consideration or money
promised or exchanged in its creation.

4.1.1 develop Project charter: Inputs

4.1.1.1 Project Statement of Work

The project statement of work (SOW) is a narrative description of products, services, or results to be delivered
by a project. For internal projects, the project initiator or sponsor provides the statement of work based on business
needs, product, or service requirements. For external projects, the statement of work can be received from the
customer as part of a bid document, (e.g., a request for proposal, request for information, or request for bid) or as
part of a contract. The SOW references the following:

• Business need. An organization’s business need may be based on a market demand, technological
advance, legal requirement, government regulation, or environmental consideration. Typically, the
business need and the cost-benefit analysis are contained in the business case to justify the project.
• Product scope description. The product scope description documents the characteristics of the product,
service, or results that the project will be undertaken to create. The description should also document
the relationship between the products, services, or results being created and the business need that the
project will address.
• Strategic plan. The strategic plan documents the organization’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives
and may contain a high-level mission statement. All projects should be aligned with their organization’s
strategic plan. Strategic plan alignment ensures that each project contributes to the overall objections of
the organization.

68 ©2013 Project Management Institute. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Fifth Edition
®

Licensed To: Jorge Diego Fuentes Sanchez PMI MemberID: 2399412
This copy is a PMI Member benefit, not for distribution, sale, or reproduction.