(Gathering basic information)

This first process in PRINCE2 is a pre-project process. It checks that a project is worthwhile. The key input to this process is a Project Mandate that defines in business terms the reason for the project and the expected outcome.

The process produces 7 management products by:

1. Capturing lessons learned on previous ventures in the Lessons Log.
2. Designing and appointing a Project Management Team.
3. Creating the Project Manager's Daily Log.
4. Preparing the outline Business Case.
5. Converting the Mandate into a Project Brief.
6. Describing the Project's final product or deliverable.
7. Planning the Project Initiation Stage.

You can see how this first short process has addressed the first 3 PRINCE2® Themes: namely, Business Case, Organization, and Plans. So from the initial input of a Project Mandate, the Directing a Project process has enough information for deciding whether or not to go ahead with detailed planning (the work covered in the Project Initiation Stage).