ABSTRACT
How does a project start? ‘ Project mandate ’ is the term used in PRINCE2 to describe the trigger for a project. The project mandate handed down to the Project Manager may be a full specification of the problem, a brief, written request to ‘ look into ’ something or ‘ do something about .... ’ , or even a verbal request ( Figure 3.1 ). This activity will turn this request (over whose format there may have been no control by the Project Manager) into a Project Brief, a complete set of terms of reference ( Cartoon 3.1 ).
