A lot depends on what your stakeholders expect in a charter.
If you have no organization standards for project management, then I'd start by consulting your key stakeholders (e.g. customer, sponsor) to find out what they'd want in a charter.
At a bare minimum, you'd likely want to capture the purpose behind the project, who is the signing authority for it, and who is the PM. Anything more than that is based on stakeholder needs and organization standards and is usually developed through collaborative discussions with key stakeholders to gather content and refine with via negotiations.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
which explains the one sheet 'project canvas' which can be used to develop the possible content of a charter.
The charter primarily is your authorization to proceed with the project and therefor should contain anything you need to start but not in too much detail (which would make change more difficult and may notbe known upfront anyhow). Saving Changes...
I would add that although the purpose of a charter is to support the needs of the stakeholders expectations, the PM is a stakeholder.
I make sure the charter reflects what I need too, such as who has to sign onto the charter declaring that they committed their support to the project. That can be a valuable tool when you are dealing with difficult stakeholders. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Aaron,
thanks for sharing, good article. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Project charter is the "contract" between all the stakeholders that will be impacted by the project. Its a good practice a no more than 1-2 page extension document. All stakeholders agree about the content of the project charter. So, at minimun, it has to include:
-Purpose of the project
-Measurable objectives and success measurement criteria
-High level requirements
-A high-level description of the Project high level risks
-Summary of relevant dates
-Financial Economic Budget Summary
-Criteria for measuring the success of the Project
-Assigned Project Manager, his level of authority and responsibility
-Name and authority of the Sponsor Saving Changes...
Mark WarnerProject Manager| AURATucson, Az, United States
Sergio has this correct: the best way to think of a charter is as a 1-2 page long contract between you and your key stakeholders. Saving Changes...
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