The Charter, For Starters

  ProjectsAtWork  

Many factors contribute to the success of a project, beginning with a timely, thorough project charter. Here's advice on how to craft an effective project charter, including the 12 key issues that it should address.

What’s the single most important factor in project success? A talented cadre of specialists? A participative user community? Cutting-edge technology? A can-do culture? I contend that the single most important factor in project success is a timely, concise and complete project charter. This single document, perhaps merely a page, launches the team down the right path and gives the entire effort its momentum. Where the team and the project land — and when they land — is a direct result of the effectiveness of the launch.

The objective of a project charter is to identify what is to be created and who is to be involved in that creation. It makes clear to the organization — executives, management, staff, sponsors, project leader and team members — what the project is about and who is responsible.

Sound too simple? It is simple — and it is simply the foundation for a successful project. Find a floundering project and ask team members about their charter. Ask two or three to identify the project sponsor, to describe the objective, or to estimate completion. You’ll readily appreciate the brilliance of this …

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