The Initiation process is used after a DIT project has been approved through Gate 1 and requirements gathering with alternative analysis has been completed.  At this time, the Project Manager uses available information to create the Project Charter (from the State of Michigan Project Management Methodology) and the Project Schedule.  This information is then forwarded to the Project Administrator (DIT-ProjectManagement@michigan.gov) for a Gate 2 review by the Project Board.  The Project Administrator will notify the DIT Project Manager of the day and time to present the project charter and schedule to the Project Board.  The Project Board meets each Thursday morning from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.  Allow approximately 25 minutes for the Gate 2 Review with the Project Board.

During this Gate 2 review, the Project Board, after reviewing the Project Charter and Schedule, will ask the DIT Project Manager a series of questions that will be known at this point in the development of the project.  These questions will revolve around:

• Project Management
• Resources
• Metrics and Measures
• Contracts
• Security
• Privacy
• Funding
• Technology and Standards
• Risks/Issues
• Operations

Based on the results of the review, the Project Board will complete a weekly dashboard report showing a summary of the reviewed projects and their decisions (i.e. red for "not approved", yellow for "additional information required", and green for "approved").  An email from the Project Board Chair will also be sent to the DIT Project Manager notifying him/her of the decision.

For projects that have been identified as "yellow" by the Project Board, this may be the point in which the DIT Project Manager needs to collect additional information using the Agency Services Review Process, the Strategic Planning Review Process, the Architecture/Standards Review Process, the Infrastructure Project Review Process and/or the Security Review Process.  The representatives from these viewpoints that reside on the Project Board can provide additional information on these processes.

For projects that have been identified as "red" by the Project Board, an escalation process to the Leadership Team is available. 

Allow four to six weeks to complete the Initiation process.  For additional details, please refer to the Initiation Process and Procedures. 

Initiation Process for Gate 2 reviews

Initiation Procedures for Gate 2 reviews

Business Case is also required at Gate 2.