Project Startup
Checklist
Project Startup Checklist
Overview
The purpose of the Project Startup Checklist is to provide the project manager with
guidelines for the steps required to startup a project at H&R Block.
Project Startup Checklist
Complete the following tasks to begin your project.
Yearly Planning
Process Approval
Funding Approved
Project Manager Staff the project - Request project staff from IT Department
Assigned Managers
Ensure Dept ID Resource Mgmt sheets are updated with
staff assignments
Request Mgmt. Transition project
Process Approval management
responsibilities
Funding Approved from BA to PM
Complete Project Submit E-mail Request to
Submission Form to Program Account Administration for
Office for setup in the Clarity HRBProjects folder creation
system
Assess applicable
PM Framework
component
Begin reporting
project status via
Online Project Status
Tool
Work w/ Financial
Analyst to assign
the project
PeopleSoft ID
Notify team members
of new access Project Startup
(Clarity / Complete
HRBProjects)
1. Transition Project to the Project Manager
Conduct a transition meeting(s) from the business consultant/analyst who has been
following the project through Pre-Feasibility.
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Project Startup Checklist
2. Identify the PM Framework Components to be Used
Review the PM Framework and identify those tasks, processes and documents that
are appropriate for the project. Make your selections based upon the
characteristics of the project (complexity, business risk, duration, etc.) .
Using the Compliance Checklist, document the selected PM Framework tasks,
processes and documents to be used for the project. See the PM Framework
Appendix for more details.
Review the updated Compliance Checklist with your manager or mentor for
feedback and guidance.
3. Staff the Project
Develop a staffing plan based on the overall project plan. Identify required skill
sets, number of people needed in each skill set, the timeframe each person will be
needed and the percent of each person’s time needed for that duration. .The
staffing plan will drive the staffing process of identifying and requesting resources
and negotiating the staff assignments. In some cases, a resource may be pre-
assigned to a project as part of the basis for approval of the project
4. Add the Project in the PeopleSoft Financial System
If the project or initiative does not have a PeopleSoft ID, contact the appropriate DIO
with this information:
Project name
Project type (Must do baseline, baseline discretionary, regulatory, enhancement, or
initiative)
Product (Each PeopleSoft ID needs to be associated with a product – regardless of
how many products are impacted. Choose the product most impacted if there are
several.)
Dept ID (the Dept ID of the owning department)
Budget (Reference the costing sheet. Normally, this is being developed when the
PeopleSoft ID is requested. Provide the current expected IT cost and the status of
the costing sheet.)
The DIO will work with IT Decision Support to have the Finance department set up
the appropriate accounts in PeopleSoft.
5. Add the Project to the Time Reporting System
Please see the [add link to the time reporting startup checklist] for details on
getting your project created in the Clarity system.
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Project Startup Checklist
6. Create a Project Folder in the XProjects Directory
Please see the XProjects Guidelines document for details on getting your project
folder created.
All new projects will use the XProjects directory to store their project
documentation.
Exception - small departmental projects that are not tracked on the Master
Initiatives List do not need a folder in the XProjects directory.
The XProjects Directory will contain the following subfolders:
AnnualReleases (for projects that use the same project folder year over year)
FY05Projects (contains project folders from the FY05 fiscal year)
FY06Projects (contains project folders from the FY06 fiscal year)
7. Begin Reporting Project Status
Once the project has been approved, contact the Program Office mailbox to get
your project setup in the Automated Project Status Reporting Tool. You will
maintain your project’s status within the online tool weekly until the project is
completed.
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