front-end planning
noun[U]
ukus(alsofront-end loading)theplanningthat is done at theearlieststagesof aprojectand thatdecidesthe mostimportantaims, etc. of theproject:
Projectdeliveryisgreatlyaffectedby thequalityof the front-endplanning.
It is at this front-endplanningstagethat thedirection,goals, andobjectivesfor theprogramareestablished.