Elements

Project governance will:

• Outline the relationships between all internal and external groups involved in the project
• Describe the proper flow of information regarding the project to all stakeholders
• Ensure the appropriate review of issues encountered within each project
• Ensure that required approvals and direction for the project is obtained at each appropriate stage of the project.

Important specific elements of good project governance include:

• A compelling business case, stating the objects of the project and specifying the in-scope and out-of-scope aspects
• A mechanism to assess the compliance of the completed project to its original objectives
• Identifying all stakeholders with an interest in the project
• A defined method of communication to each stakeholder
• A set of business-level requirements as agreed by all stakeholders
• An agreed specification for the project deliverables
• The appointment of a project manager
• Clear assignment of project roles and responsibilities
• A current, published project plan that spans all project stages from project initiation through development to the transition to operations.
• A system of accurate upward status- and progress-reporting including time records.
• A central document repository for the project
• A centrally-held glossary of project terms
• A process for the management and resolution of issues that arise during the project
• A process for the recording and communication of risks identified during the project
• A standard for quality review of the key governance documents and of the project deliverables.