How many times is a project charter created in the project?
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
In PMBoK 4.1 this question is answered as 'once or at predefined points in the project'.
I personally have never seen a charter that was changed during a project. When the need for a change came up, it was handled thru change request. I see the project charter as a birth certificate. There might have been charters for phases, these are not project charters though.
A project charter is a formal, typically short document that describes your project. It is a project definition document. It is created at the beginning. It may be updated when there is a core change in the project scope. Saving Changes...
I had never has change in the project charter after it is formally accepted. Once the charter is formally accepted it is done, if it need any change, it is maybe because u need another project. Saving Changes...
Paul AzanorProject Consultant| Lagos NigeriaIkoyi, Lagos, Nigeria
I hope, that the remark in the PMBOK Guide will be reworded in the next edition as this is misleading, ambiguous and a risk to potential PMP credential holders as this could make them select the wrong option in the exam. The project charter is a high level document typically created only 1 time and at the initiating phase of a project and not at any other pre-defined point.This document is typically created by the project sponsor. Saving Changes...
I have rarely seen a project charter updated as well. I do remember a major reorganization where business units were split up and the scope didn't change, but we had to re-define which org had what responsibilities. Saving Changes...
RAJON BANERJEEKalyani, District: Nadia, West Bengal, India
Project charter should not change. As it defines business needs & all assumptions, constraints as well as primary risks. Project without have a chartered is practically unbelievable.
The worst experience I have seen that one PM has changed the same without having knowledge this fellow have suffered lot of troubles for client & organization end having a penalty impose over him. Not only that he has to resign from his position also.
Please be careful before taking such kind of action. If it happen it should be with extreme cautions & approval of all party involved within it. Saving Changes...
Khaled OthmanSenior IT Project Manager| Alfanar Digital SolutionsRiyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
once in project initiation and not updated during the project life. Saving Changes...
Karthik RamamurthyAuthor, Say YES to Project Success| Founder KeyResultzChennai, Tamilnadu, Tamilnadu, India
Interesting question, Thomas!
In my 30+ years in P3M including as PM and PMO consultant, I too have rarely seen this happen.
However, there were a few instances where a change was necessitated by major developments such as a merger/acquisition. Saving Changes...
Nedal DudinProject Management Consultant and Educator| Trace Consulting LtdAmman, Amman, Jordan
we need to repeat the development of the project charter for each project phase to formalize the authority of the project manager. Saving Changes...
