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Setting the framework for the project involves:

• selecting a methodology
• identifying goals and objectives
• defining success measures
• establishing project scope
• selecting a project team
• securing sponsorship

The Project Planning Toolkit describes all of these components and provides guidelines and templates to help you efficiently and effectively plan your project.

A survey of 327 organizations involved in process change projects found that the top five activities during project startup are:

1. Communicating the need to change and securing support from top management, including: forming a steering committee, selecting an executive sponsor, gaining buy-in from regional and divisional managers, securing project budget.
2. Establishing the scope and boundaries of the project to limit commitments and prevent scope creep in the future.
3. Clearly stating the objectives and outcomes of the project and ensuring that they were communicated to and shared by all critical parties.
4. Understanding and documenting the current process at a high level and assessing the needs and requirements of a solution.
5. Assembling a competent team by conducting team building activities, selecting knowledgeable and skilled members, defining team roles and expectations, and recruiting cross-functional members.

Read more:

Selecting a methodology for business process reengineering

Introduction to BPR

2002 Best Practices in BPR - Executive Summary

Five steps for creating effective visions

Best practices in project startup and team creation

Best Practices in Business Process Reengineering and Process Design Benchmarking Report - this report gives team members, project leaders and executive sponsors a first-hand account of what is working and what is not, combining data from three benchmarking studies to present the most accurate, up-to-date picture of process redesign and reengineering projects as well as insights into the mistakes to avoid on your project.