Define – DMAIC

Define is one of the steps within the DMAIC model.

The purpose of the define step is to allow the project team to produce, amoungst others:
* A project charter or initiation document
* High level process maps
* Stakeholder analysis
* Project plans

First Steps

Projects are usually initiated by a project sponsor – the role of the sponsor is to select the project and produce the first draft of the project charter which is typically one of the first tasks within an improvement project. Whilst the contents of a project charter may vary it will typically cover the nature of the business problem, the goals, deliverables and structure of the project team.

Key steps in the Define stage

1/ Produce and review Project charter/Initiation document
2/ Define and Validate problems – ensure that the problem exists, and is important.
3/ Define the Project Goal
3/ Validate business rationalie for going ahead with project – eg. Financial
4/ Develop Project Plans
5/ Develop the project structure