Differences between Vision and Scope & a Project Charter
Anonymous
Hi,
What is the major difference between a Vision & Scope Statement and a Project Charter.
According to me, a 'V&S' is similar to a scope statement and should be used for requirements gathering and capturing the solution for the requirements, but according to another it is similar to a project proposal and hence should be developed before even considering a Project Charter. Saving Changes...
Brian PhillipsCEO| Yellowhouse.net Pty LtdHolland Park East, Qld, Australia
Can I challenge this thread from a more strategic perspective, where the Vision Statement, aligned with corporate strategy, is the outward-facing statement of the goal of a program or major project. It is used in the Managing Successful Programmes framework (MSP) to focus stakeholders on the ultimate goal of a project, based on the business benefits to be derived. It may be delevoped from a Brief (or a Charter) which contains the genesis of a business case. It is created and refined pre-project delivery.
As the program of projects is developed, the Vision Statement is aligned with a Blueprint (the detailed future state expressed in terms of processes, organisation, technology and information). It is also aligned with the benefits delivered through a program of projects. In this context, you need to clearly articulate the Vision from the Charter (or project/program Brief) then develop the program (or project) plan to deliver the capability that results in a range of benefits aligned with a business case. As to the difference? The charter should come first - the development of a project idea ... then the important element is to align Vision with the desired future state (Blueprint).
It challenges your thinking, and ensures your stakeholders know what they are getting into before they commit resources. Saving Changes...
Thanks for giving a new perspective, Brian. With my clients, their "vision statement" is usually a corporate vision. I have not heard them use the word "vision" to apply to projects.
I see strategic planning people talking about "vision" and "mission" as corporate-level or organizational-level items, and then using different terms at the project-level. In these cases, the project charter would be derived from the mission and vision, to ensure that the project is supporting organizational goals and values.
There is also an on-going debate among strategic planners about whether it is best to derive the vision statement and mission statement for the company from its strategic plan or vice versa. In this context, all these terms are at an organizational level, not a project level.
It just goes to show that these is little consistency in how these words are used. Saving Changes...
