- Successful projects require quite a bit of planning, all of which results in the deployment baseline. The deployment baseline is documented in the integrated project management plan, or PMP. The PMP documents the why, what, how, how much, who, when and where for your project. It is ultimately up to the project sponsor to approve the deployment baseline and PMP at any decision gates. In this video, we'll discuss the deployment baseline in both linear and iterative lifecycles, talk about the importance of the PMP and end off on PMP ownership. In a linear lifecycle, the baseline is set for the whole project and the PMP will be created during the definition stage. In an iterative lifecycle, on the other hand, the baseline resources and schedule are set from the start but can change over time because teams tend to have more autonomy when it comes to reprioritizing and acting on new knowledge. This all means that it's important to understand what kind of lifecycle you are working in before you try to set a baseline and create the PMP. The PMP is important because it basically acts as a contract between the project manager and the sponsor. It covers why the need or problem is being addressed; what, how and how much; when and where it will be delivered; and who will do the work. Because it covers these fundamental questions, the PMP is a major focal point for the project. It can be used by the project manager and stakeholders to verify the success criteria in the project. In other words, it can be used as the primary control mechanism throughout the project's lifecycle. So clearly, the PMP is incredibly important, but who should own it? Ultimately, it's up to the project manager to own the PMP, including creating it, making sure it's accurate and maintaining it. However, as a project manager, no matter how great you may be, it's unlikely that you'll have all of the skills and the knowledge to create the entire PMP. That's where team members and other stakeholders come in. Although the PMP is your responsibility, they should be involved in the creation and the approval of the PMP too. This plays a key part in removing any ambiguity and setting reasonable expectations. And that's it for this video. The deployment baseline is the culmination of project planning and comes together in a PMP. In this video, we focused on how the PMP differs, depending on the project lifecycle, why it's important and who should own it.