- A project is a temporary endeavor with a definite start and a definite end. A project can be as simple as making your bed in the morning, or as complicated as rolling out a new software program.
- The project charter outlines the purpose, objectives and scope of a project. Once the purpose, objectives, and scope of a project are defined, the process to start and finish the project can be developed.
-
The Project Charter provides an understanding of the project, the reason it is being conducted, and its justification.
The Project Charter should be reviewed and approved by the project manager and senior management before initiating the project.
Stakeholders--people who have a desire to see the project completed successfully--should be involved in this process to ensure you have a feasable and accurate Project Charter.
You might need input from software engineers, accounting, marketing or any employees who will be responsible for realizing the project. -
To ensure that the Project Charter outlines the objectives of a project, the Charter should include:
Objective: The objective of the project is . . .
Scope: The scope of the project includes . . .
The scope does not include . . .
Deliverables: major deliverables are . . .
Business need: the business need or opportunity is. . .
Financial Benefit: the financial benefit of the project is. . .
These headings should be sufficient for you to shape your project charter. -
The Project Management Institute is the definitive source for information related to project management. The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, also called the PMBOK, provides more information on developing a project charter and initiating a project.
The Microsoft Office website has sample Project Charter templates, too.
