When can pre-assignment of project team members occur?

Pre-assignment of project team members occurs when individuals are selected for the team before the formal resource acquisition process begins. This is common when the project's approval or success is contingent on the expertise of specific people. A primary example is when a project is awarded based on a competitive proposal that explicitly named and promised certain individuals as part of the project team. This commitment ensures that the required expertise, as promised to the client or stakeholders, is secured for the project from its inception.

1. Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute. Section 9.3.2.2, "Pre-Assignment," p. 330. The guide states, "This situation can occur if the project is the result of specific people being promised as part of a competitive proposal, if the project is dependent upon the expertise of particular persons, or if some staff assignments are defined within the project charter."

2. Syracuse University. (n.d.). PMP/CAPM Exam Prep Courseware. School of Information Studies. In the module on Project Resource Management, the course materials explain that pre-assignment is a tool and technique in the Acquire Resources process, often necessary when specific staff are named in a contract or proposal to win the project.