Obtain Plan Commitment

Obtaining commitment involves interaction among all relevant stakeholders both internal and external to the project. The individual or group making a commitment should have confidence that the work can be performed within cost, schedule, and performance constraints. Often, a provisional commitment is adequate to allow the effort to begin and to permit research to be performed to increase confidence to the appropriate level needed to obtain a full commitment.

• Identify needed support and negotiate commitments with relevant stakeholders. The WBS can be used as a checklist for ensuring that commitments are obtained for all tasks. The plan for stakeholder interaction should identify all parties from whom commitment should be obtained.
• Document all organizational commitments, both full and provisional, ensuring appropriate level of signatories. Commitments must be documented to ensure a consistent mutual understanding as well as for tracking and maintenance. Provisional commitments should be accompanied by a description of the risks associated with the relationship.
• Review internal commitments with senior management as appropriate.
• Review external commitments with senior management as appropriate. Management may have the necessary insight and authority to reduce risks associated with external commitments.
• Identify commitments on interfaces between elements in the project, and with other projects and organizational units, so they can be monitored. Well-defined interface specifications form the basis for commitments.