Every project has a purpose. Understanding that purpose is critical for people to commit their time and energy in the right direction toward achieving the project purpose. The project vision summarizes the project’s purpose clearly and succinctly. It describes a realistic, attractive view of the future project outcomes.
In addition to briefly describing the desired future state, the vision is a powerful motivational tool. It is a way to create passion and meaning for a project’s envisioned goal. A common vision helps keep people pulling in the same direction. When immersed in the details of everyday work, a clear understanding of the end goal can help guide local decisions toward the desired project outcome.
A vision developed collaboratively between project team members and key stakeholders should answer these questions:
- What is the project purpose?
- What defines successful project work?
- How will the future be better when the project outcomes are delivered?
- How will the project team know that it is drifting from the vision?
A good vision is clear, concise, and actionable. It does the following:
- Summarizes the project with a powerful phrase or short description,
- Describes the best achievable outcome,
- Creates a common, cohesive picture in project team members’ minds, and
- Inspires passion for the outcome.
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