A project manager is working on the project charter. Which of the following phases does this describe?

The project charter is the defining output of the Initiation phase; it formally authorizes the project's existence, names the project manager, and establishes the initial scope, objectives, and key stakeholders before any planning or execution work begins.

Planning involves developing the project management plan and its subsidiary plans after the charter has already been approved and the project formally initiated.

Execution is where the actual project deliverables are produced according to the approved plan; the charter must already exist and be authorized before this phase begins.

Closing involves finalizing all project activities, obtaining stakeholder acceptance, and archiving records - the charter is a foundational input document, not a closing artifact.