Kickoff Meeting
DE: Kickoff-Meeting
The first meeting to align the team on objectives, roles, and timelines.
Detailed Explanation
The kickoff meeting marks the formal start of a project or phase. It brings together the project team, sponsor, and key stakeholders to align on objectives, roles, responsibilities, timelines, and communication protocols.
A well-structured kickoff covers: project purpose and business case, scope and key deliverables, team introductions and roles (RACI), high-level schedule and milestones, communication plan, risk awareness, and next steps. It sets the tone for the entire project.
The kickoff meeting is not a planning meeting — it is an alignment and motivation meeting. Detailed planning comes later. The goal is to ensure everyone understands what the project will accomplish, why it matters, who is involved, and how the team will work together.
Key Points
- Marks the formal project or phase start
- Aligns team on objectives, roles, and approach
- Covers scope, schedule, communication, and risks at high level
- Sets the tone and builds team commitment
- Not a detailed planning meeting — alignment focused
- Should include sponsor, team, and key stakeholders
Practical Example
A PM kicks off a CRM implementation with a 1-hour meeting. She presents the business case (30% customer service improvement target), introduces the 8-person team with RACI roles, walks through the 6-month milestone schedule, and reviews the communication plan. The sponsor reinforces the project's strategic importance. The team leaves aligned and energized.
Tips for Learning and Applying
Prepare a clear, concise presentation — respect everyone's time
Have the sponsor attend and speak to reinforce project importance
Distribute an agenda beforehand and meeting minutes afterward
Use the kickoff to build relationships, not just share information
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