The Inception Deck is a series of discussions and exercises designed to ensure all project participants are aligned on the project's goals, scope, and constraints before the project begins. It helps in identifying potential issues and opportunities early in the project lifecycle, promoting transparency and mutual understanding among stakeholders. This framework is particularly beneficial in clarifying project objectives, defining key success metrics, and establishing a shared vision, which can significantly enhance the likelihood of project success.
Project Vision: Establishing the overarching goals and vision for the project. | Elevator Pitch: Crafting a concise summary that explains the project's purpose and value proposition. | Not List: Defining what is outside the scope of the project to prevent scope creep. | Solution Design: Sketching out possible solutions and selecting the most viable one. | Risks and Rabbit Holes: Identifying potential risks and complexities that could derail the project. | Size It Up: Estimating the scale of the project in terms of effort, time, and resources.
Involve all key stakeholders in the sessions | Keep the sessions interactive and inclusive | Regularly revisit and update the deck as the project evolves
Enhances stakeholder alignment | Reduces project risks through early identification | Clarifies project scope and objectives
Can be time-consuming | May not capture all complexities early on | Relies heavily on stakeholder engagement
At the beginning of a new project | When re-aligning a project that has gone off track
For very small or straightforward projects | When project details and objectives are already well-defined and agreed upon