The bedrock of any successful project lies in its initial definition and guidance – the Project Charter. This pivotal document outlines the purpose, scope, stakeholders, goals, and objectives, setting the foundation for every stage of project execution. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of Project Charters, shedding light on their importance, structure, and how they can be leveraged to effectively drive projects towards their defined outcomes.
Whether you are a seasoned project manager seeking to refine your charter-writing skills or a novice stepping into the world of project management, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the necessary tools and insights to create and implement robust Project Charters, ensuring project success from inception to completion.
Table of Contents
What Is a Project Charter?

A Project Charter is a critical document in project management that formally authorizes the existence of a project. It provides a preliminary delineation of roles and responsibilities, outlines the project’s key objectives, identifies the main stakeholders, and defines the project manager’s authority level.
Project Charter Templates
Project Charter Templates are predefined formats for creating a project charter, an essential document that outlines the purpose, scope, objectives, and stakeholders of a project. These templates offer a consistent structure for presenting critical project information, ensuring that all project details are efficiently communicated.
Key features of these templates include sections for project title, project manager’s name, project sponsor’s name, project description, objectives, and deliverables. They often have areas dedicated to stakeholder identification, budget estimation, timeline planning, and project constraints.
Project Charter Templates are pivotal for project initiation. They provide a clear framework to establish project specifics and set the direction for the project’s execution. By defining the project’s goals, scope, and stakeholders, these templates help align the project team and ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.
Key Benefits of Having a Project Charter
A Project Charter is a valuable tool that has a wide range of benefits. It not only sets the stage for a project but also acts as a reference guide, assisting project teams in navigating the challenges that arise during a projectโs lifecycle. Here are the key benefits of having a Project Charter:
- Defines Project ScopeThe Project Charter provides a clear understanding of the project’s boundaries, such as what is and is not included in the project. This well-defined scope helps prevent scope creep, ensuring resources are utilized effectively.
- Identifies Stakeholders: The charter lists all the key stakeholders, clarifying who will be involved in the project and who will be affected by it. This facilitates better communication and management of expectations among all parties involved.
- Outlines Roles and Responsibilities: The charter assigns and communicates the roles and responsibilities of the project team members. This reduces ambiguity and helps avoid conflicts or miscommunications down the line.
- Establishes Authority of the Project Manager: A Project Charter formally gives the project manager the authority to utilize organizational resources to complete the project. It lays out the level of decision-making power the project manager has, boosting their ability to lead and manage the project effectively.
- Sets Project Goals and Objectives: The charter clearly states the project’s goals and objectives, ensuring everyone is working towards a common purpose. This direction can boost team motivation and focus.
- Facilitates Communication: The charter acts as a communication tool, providing stakeholders with vital project information. It ensures everyone has the same understanding of the project, promoting transparency and stakeholder alignment.
- Risk Management: By outlining potential risks and issues, the Project Charter aids in risk management. It helps the project team foresee, prepare for, and mitigate risks.
- Acts as a Contract: The Project Charter is often considered a contract between the project sponsor and the project team. It lays out the expectations and commitments of both parties, providing a foundation for accountability.
In summary, a well-prepared Project Charter is more than just a document โ it is an instrumental guide that sets the tone for the project’s management and execution. With clear objectives, defined roles, risk management strategies, and established lines of authority, it sets the groundwork for successful project completion.
It ensures that everyone involved has a clear, shared understanding of what the project entails, thereby reducing potential misunderstandings and conflicts, and paving the way for smoother project execution.
What should a project charter include?
A Project Charter is a comprehensive document that establishes the direction and parameters of the project. It’s one of the most vital tools in project management, and therefore, it’s essential to include all necessary information to ensure clarity and alignment. Here’s what a typical Project Charter should include:
- Project Title and Description: Start with a brief, clear title and a description of the project that includes what the project will achieve. This summary should be concise but informative enough to give readers an understanding of the project at a glance.
- Project Sponsor and Project Manager: Name the project sponsor, usually a high-level individual who champions the project, and the project manager, the person responsible for managing the project’s execution.
- Project Purpose or Justification: Here, you’ll explain why the project is being undertaken. Include the business need or problem it will address, its importance, and the anticipated benefits and outcomes.
- Project Goals and Objectives: Outline what the project is expected to achieve. Goals are broad, primary outcomes of the project, while objectives are measurable, tangible deliverables. They should align with the organization’s strategic goals.
- Scope Statement: Define what is included in the project (in-scope) and also what is not included (out-of-scope). Clearly defining the scope can help prevent scope creep later in the project.
- Key Stakeholders: Identify the people, groups, or organizations that have a stake in the project. This includes those affected by the project’s outcome or those who can influence the project’s success.
- Roles and Responsibilities: Detail the roles and responsibilities of each project team member. This can help prevent confusion, conflicts, and gaps in work.
- Project Deliverables: List the tangible outputs that will be produced by the project. These are typically things like a new product, a report, or a software system.
- Project Schedule: Provide a high-level timeline of the project, including estimated start and end dates and key milestones.
- Project Budget: Outline the project’s financial resources and how they will be distributed.
- Risk Management: Identify potential risks and how they will be managed. This shows that you’ve thought about what could go wrong and how to mitigate it.
- Project Approval Requirements: Define what is needed to consider the project completed and how the project’s success will be evaluated.
- Communication Plan: Describe how information will be disseminated to stakeholders throughout the project.
- Project Constraints and Assumptions: State the limitations and suppositions made during the planning phase that will affect the project’s execution.
Project Charter vs. Project Plan
The Project Charter and the Project Plan are two distinct documents that serve different purposes within the scope of project management. While they might overlap in some areas, understanding their differences is crucial to effectively kick off, plan, and execute any project.
Project Charter
The Project Charter is the formal document that signifies the official start of a project. It contains high-level information about the project and establishes the authority of the project manager. The charter is typically created in the initiating process group of a project.
Key elements of a Project Charter include:
- Project Title and Description
- Project Sponsor and Project Manager
- Project Purpose or Justification
- Project Goals and Objectives
- Project Scope
- Key Stakeholders
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Project Deliverables
- Preliminary Project Schedule and Budget
- Project Risks
- Communication Plan
- Project Approval Requirements
Project Plan
On the other hand, the Project Plan is a comprehensive, detailed document that guides the execution and control of the project. It is created after the project charter and is usually developed during the planning process group. The Project Plan includes specific plans for scope management, schedule management, cost management, quality management, resource management, communication management, risk management, procurement management, stakeholder management, and more.
Key elements of a Project Plan include:
- Scope Management Plan
- Schedule Management Plan
- Cost Management Plan
- Quality Management Plan
- Resource Management Plan
- Communication Management Plan
- Risk Management Plan
- Procurement Management Plan
- Stakeholder Management Plan
- Change Management Plan
- Project Baselines (Scope, Schedule, and Cost)
Comparison
While both documents are crucial to a project, they serve different purposes:
- Level of Detail: The Project Charter provides a high-level overview of the project, while the Project Plan goes into a detailed roadmap for each aspect of the project execution and control.
- Timing: The Project Charter is created at the beginning of a project to formally authorize it. In contrast, the Project Plan is developed after the project has been authorized and generally after some of the initial project team has been assembled.
- Content: The Project Charter includes the business case, preliminary resources, roles and responsibilities, and initial risks. In contrast, the Project Plan provides a detailed scope statement, work breakdown structure (WBS), specific resources, detailed risks, planned procurement, and many more.
- Usage: The Project Charter is primarily used to authorize the project and provide initial guidance. On the other hand, the Project Plan is used as a roadmap throughout the project lifecycle, guiding execution and serving as a baseline for performance measurement and control.
In essence, the Project Charter provides the “what and why” of the project, while the Project Plan describes “how, when, and by whom” the project will be executed. Both documents are crucial for the success of a project and are instrumental in ensuring everyone involved understands the project’s goals, deliverables, and processes.
How to create a project charter
Creating a Project Charter requires careful planning and collaboration. Below are step-by-step instructions to guide you through this process. Examples are included for each step to provide further clarity.
Step 1: Define the Project Title and Description
Begin by giving your project a concise but descriptive title. Follow up with a brief description of what the project involves.
Example: Project Title – “Website Redesign for XYZ Company.” Description – “This project involves a comprehensive redesign of the XYZ Company’s website to improve usability, aesthetics, and functionality.”
Step 2: Identify the Project Sponsor and Project Manager
State the project sponsor – the individual or group that provides the project’s direction and resources – and the project manager responsible for executing the project.
Example: Project Sponsor – “John Doe, CEO of XYZ Company.” Project Manager – “Jane Smith, Senior Website Designer.”
Step 3: Outline the Project Purpose or Justification Explain why the project is necessary. Identify the problem it will solve or the benefit it will bring.
Example: “The current XYZ Company’s website is outdated and not user-friendly, leading to reduced customer engagement. This project aims to enhance the site’s design and functionality to improve the user experience and increase customer engagement.”
Step 4: Set Project Goals and Objectives Specify what the project aims to achieve. Make sure the objectives are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
Example: “Goal – Improve customer engagement through a better web experience. Objectives – Increase website traffic by 30%, reduce bounce rate by 20%, and increase the average time spent on the site by 50% within six months after project completion.”
Step 5: Define the Project Scope
Clarify what’s included in the project (in scope) and what’s not (out of scope).
Example: In Scope – “Website design, development, testing, and launch.” Out of Scope – “Creating new marketing content, SEO strategy.”
Step 6: Identify Key Stakeholders List the individuals, groups, or organizations that have a stake in the project’s outcome.
Example: “John Doe (CEO), Jane Smith (Senior Website Designer), Marketing Team, Customer Support Team, and Website Users.”
Step 7: Assign Roles and Responsibilities
Outline who is responsible for what in the project.
Example: “John Doe – Approving budget and project timeline, Jane Smith – Leading the website design and development, Marketing Team – Providing feedback on design.”
Step 8: List Project Deliverables
State the specific outputs that the project will produce.
Example: “A user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and functional website for XYZ Company.”
Step 9: Create a Project Schedule Provide a high-level timeline, including estimated start and end dates and milestones.
Example: “Project Start – July 1, 2023, Design Completion – August 15, 2023, Development Completion – October 1, 2023, Testing Completion – October 20, 2023, Project End – November 1, 2023.”
Step 10: Establish a Project Budget
Estimate the financial resources needed for the project.
Example: “Total project budget is $50,000, distributed as follows: Design – $20,000, Development – $20,000, Testing – $5,000, Miscellaneous – $5,000.”
Step 11: Identify Risks and Plan Risk Management Note potential issues that could impact the project and how they will be handled.
Example: “Risk – Delay in development phase. Mitigation Strategy – Have a backup developer on standby.”
Step 12: Specify Project Approval Requirements
Describe what’s needed to consider the project completed and how the project’s success will be evaluated.
Example: “The project is deemed complete when the redesigned website is live and functioning without major issues. Success is evaluated by measuring increases in website traffic, reduction in bounce rate, and an increase in average time spent on the site.”
Step 13: Develop a Communication Plan State how information will be shared with stakeholders.
Example: “Weekly progress reports will be emailed to all stakeholders. Urgent issues will be communicated via phone calls or immediate meetings.”
Step 14: State Project Constraints and Assumptions Note any limitations and assumptions made that will affect project execution.
Example: “Constraints – Budget limitation of $50,000, a strict timeline of 4 months. Assumptions – All team members will be available and dedicated to the project during the planned project period.”
Tips to create a project charter
Creating a Project Charter is a crucial task that requires thoughtful planning, strong communication, and a clear understanding of the project and its objectives. Here are some valuable tips to guide you through this process:
1. Collaborate with Stakeholders:
The Project Charter should be developed in collaboration with key project stakeholders. These could include the project sponsor, key team members, and even customer representatives. Collaboration ensures that all relevant perspectives are considered and increases the likelihood of stakeholder buy-in.
2. Clearly Define the Projectโs Purpose:
The charter should clearly state why the project is being undertaken. This is the place to articulate the business case and describe the issues the project will address or the benefits it will bring to the organization. Ensure this section is clearly written and easily understandable to all stakeholders.
3. Set SMART Objectives:
The projectโs goals and objectives should be SMART โ Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This helps in setting a clear direction for the project and makes success measurement easier down the line.
4. Specify Roles and Responsibilities:
Clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of the project team members and stakeholders is crucial. This can help prevent confusion, miscommunication, and gaps in the work later on.
5. Establish Scope Boundaries:
The project scope should be defined clearly, including what’s in scope and what’s out of scope. Defining these boundaries can help prevent scope creep and manage stakeholders’ expectations.
6. Develop Preliminary Schedule and Budget:
While the charter does not typically include a detailed project schedule or budget, it should give a high-level view of the project timeline and the estimated costs.
7. Identify Risks:
At this stage, high-level project risks should be identified. While a detailed risk analysis will be conducted during the planning stage, itโs good to be aware of potential risks upfront.
8. Keep it Concise:
Although the charter needs to be comprehensive, it should also be as concise as possible. The document is meant to provide a high-level view of the project, and getting too detailed can make the document lengthy and difficult to follow.
9. Use Clear, Simple Language:
Avoid jargon and make the charter as clear and straightforward as possible. Remember, not every stakeholder will have project management expertise.
10. Obtain Approvals:
The charter typically needs to be signed or approved by the project sponsor or other high-level stakeholders. This formal approval signifies the official authorization of the project.
11. Review and Revise:
Donโt expect to get the charter perfect on the first try. Review and revise the document as necessary. It’s often useful to have a neutral third party review the document to ensure it’s clear and makes sense.
Project charter example
Project Charter for a hypothetical project to build a new mobile app for a retail company:
Project Title: New Mobile App Development for ABC Retail Company
Project Description: This project involves designing, developing, and launching a user-friendly mobile app for ABC Retail Company to enhance customer engagement, boost online sales, and provide a streamlined shopping experience.
Project Sponsor: John Doe, CEO of ABC Retail Company
Project Manager: Jane Smith, Head of App Development
Project Purpose/Justification: ABC Retail Company currently lacks a mobile app platform, leading to a decrease in customer engagement and limiting its competitive edge in the market. The project aims to resolve these issues and create an additional sales channel.
Project Goals and Objectives:
- Goal: Develop a high-quality, user-friendly mobile app to increase online sales and improve customer satisfaction
- Objectives:
- Increase online sales by 25% within 6 months of app launch
- Achieve an app store rating of 4+ stars within the first three months after launch
- Attain a 20% increase in active user engagement within the first quarter of app deployment
Scope Statement:
- In Scope: Mobile app design, development, testing, and launch, user manual documentation, training for the customer service team
- Out of Scope: Website development, physical stores’ operations, product delivery system
Key Stakeholders: John Doe (CEO), Jane Smith (Head of App Development), App Development Team, Marketing Team, Customer Service Team, ABC Retail Company customers
Roles and Responsibilities:
- John Doe: Approving budget and timeline, overseeing project progress
- Jane Smith: Leading app development, managing team, reporting project status to John Doe
- App Development Team: Designing, developing, and testing the app
- Marketing Team: Marketing the app and gathering user feedback
- Customer Service Team: Providing app support to customers
Project Deliverables:
- Fully functioning mobile app for Android and iOS
- User manual and help documentation
- Training module for the customer service team
Project Schedule (high-level):
- Project Start: July 1, 2023
- Design Phase Completion: August 15, 2023
- Development Phase Completion: October 1, 2023
- Testing Phase Completion: October 20, 2023
- Project End (Launch): November 1, 2023
Project Budget: $200,000 distributed as follows – Design: $50,000, Development: $70,000, Testing: $40,000, Marketing & Miscellaneous: $40,000
Risk Management:
- Risk: Delay in project timeline due to unforeseen technical issues. Mitigation: Engage an additional part-time expert developer.
- Risk: Poor user acceptance. Mitigation: Conduct regular user testing during development and incorporate feedback.
Project Approval Requirements: The mobile app should be complete and functioning as per the agreed-upon specifications. The project’s success will be evaluated based on online sales increase, app store ratings, and user engagement metrics.
Communication Plan: Weekly project status updates will be sent via email to all stakeholders. Immediate issues will be communicated via phone calls or urgent meetings.
Project Constraints and Assumptions:
- Constraints: Budget limit of $200,000, timeline of five months
- Assumptions: All team members will be available when required, customers will be willing to download and use the new app
Approvals:
- Project Sponsor: ____________________ Date: ____________
- Project Manager: ____________________ Date: ____________
FAQs
Who creates the Project Charter?
The Project Charter is usually developed by the project sponsor or initiator, often in collaboration with the project manager. It’s a collaborative document, and inputs may also come from other key stakeholders.
Why is a Project Charter necessary?
The Project Charter serves several critical functions: it provides a clear direction for the project, authorizes the project and the project managerโs authority, helps align stakeholders, and defines the project’s high-level scope, timeline, and budget.
How detailed should a Project Charter be?
The Project Charter is a high-level document that provides an overview of the project. It should be detailed enough to provide clear guidance for the project but not so detailed that it becomes unwieldy. The specifics will be further developed in the Project Management Plan.
When should the Project Charter be created?
The Project Charter should be created at the initiation stage of the project, before the project planning phase begins. It signifies the formal start of the project.
What happens if changes need to be made to the Project Charter?
If changes need to be made to the Project Charter after it has been approved, these changes should be discussed and agreed upon with the project sponsor and key stakeholders. It’s essential to maintain the documentโs integrity as a source of truth for the project.
Who should approve the Project Charter?
The Project Charter is typically approved by the project sponsor or a senior executive within the organization who has decision-making authority and can provide the necessary resources for the project.
Can a project start without a Project Charter?
While it’s possible to start a project without a Project Charter, it’s not considered best practice. Without a Project Charter, the project lacks formal authorization, and the project manager might face challenges with unclear roles, authority, objectives, and stakeholder alignment.
Can a Project Charter be revised after it has been signed?
While the Project Charter is generally a stable document, it is not set in stone. If major changes occur in the project’s scope, schedule, or resources, the charter may need to be revised. Any changes should be approved by the original approving parties.
Does every project need a Project Charter?
While the size and complexity of a project may influence the length and depth of a Project Charter, every project, regardless of size, can benefit from having a charter. Even for small projects, a Project Charter helps align the team, sets expectations, and provides a reference point for the project.
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