Project support covers all the various things done continuously in the project to keep the team working. Project support starts with the beginning of the project and ends when the project ends.

This phase includes work to monitor and manage parts of the project. Teams are one example (Section 19.3.1); maintaining plans and tasking (Section 20.6) is another. Tracking project risk (Chapter 66) and technical uncertainty (Chapter 65) supports planning.

Other elements of project support include:

• Artifacts: setting up and maintain the tools that store artifacts and handle artifact-related workflows.
• Tools: defining how to acquire and maintain tools, and how people will be trained to use them.
• Teams: hiring, on boarding, and off boarding procedures; how to maintain a team directory (Section 19.4).
• Space: the office and work space needed for the team.
• Partners: how to maintain relationships with partner organizations, such as subcontractors.
• Finance: tracking budgets, working with accounting organizations.
• Production and vendors: how to select and work with vendors.
• Relations: who will be responsible for maintaining relationships with customers, the organization, funders, and regulators (Section 16.2).

These efforts, similar to project preparation, will usually start small and develop over time. Similar principles apply to the timing of work on project support.