projektbasis

Projektbasis is a term used in German-speaking project management to denote the foundational set of documents, agreements, and assumptions that define a project before detailed planning. It serves as the authorization and reference point for planning and governance, helping to align stakeholders on the project’s purpose, scope, and constraints. The project basis is typically created during project initiation and approved by the project sponsor, with the understanding that it may be updated through formal change control.

Contents of the projektbasis commonly include:

- Project mandate or charter (Auftrag/Charter)

- Business case (Wirtschaftlichkeitsanalyse)

- Project brief (Projektbrief)

- Initial scope statement and high-level requirements

- Defined success criteria and anticipated benefits

- Assumptions and constraints

- Initial risk assessment

- Governance structure and decision rights

- High-level resource estimates and budget limits

- Stakeholder list and engagement approach

- High-level schedule horizon or milestones

Process and lifecycle:

The projektbasis is created early in the project and acts as the baseline for subsequent planning and decision-making. It should be maintained as a living reference and updated only through formal change control. As planning progresses, more detailed documents can be added, but changes typically require approval consistent with the project’s governance framework.

Relation to other concepts:

The projektbasis is closely related to, but distinct from, the detailed project plan. It often overlaps with or consolidates elements of a project charter, business case, and project brief, providing the rationale and boundaries that guide the development of baselines for scope, schedule, and budget. It functions as a governance and authorization artifact within many PMO and project-management approaches.