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How many project managers on larger construction projects actually use a project charter?

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Mark Schwartz Project Manager| Certified Construction Consultants LLC Royal Palm Beach, Fl, United States
I have worked on many construction projects as the owner's representative and found very few construction project managers started a project using a project charter.
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Anonymous
May 17, 2016 3:04 PM
Replying to Mark Schwartz
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Thank you everyone. When I studied for my PMP designation, the instructor told us that the project charter is imperative and, without it, you don't have a project. I have downloaded numerous samples of charters and can't make sense out of them for my particular healthcare design and construction project. I agree with most of you that a construction contract, or some other documents, can replace a charter.
Hi Mark

I am not sure how to say this without being direct - unfortunately many who lead PMP classes have limited PM experience if any. They might have worked on projects but either (1) in a technical role, (2) maybe responsible for some aspects but not full project, (3) worked only a phase and not full project (4) in one industry (typically IT) without exposure to others. So what your instructor was telling you probably borrowed from Rita's book because she jokingly used to say "No Charter - No Project"

However, as I said before, we need to understand intent and purpose and not be rigid to a book. Common names for charters are PID (Project Initiation Document); PAD (Project Authorization Document), Project Brief, Venture Brief, Project Manadate, and the list goes on. The key thing to know is the following:

Does the organization uses some kind of document (or email) to authorize a project or a phase of a project? That is a charter.

Now in real life - when you see a document called charter (like you described) --- you will find numerous variations. Some charter are 1 page, 1 sheet (which is best) or could be 10-page document which include a scope statement, schedule, and pm plan.

Unfortunately, we do not have uniform practices. Even among PMI followers
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Anonymous
May 17, 2016 5:10 PM
Replying to Mark Schwartz
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Samuel
The term 'Project Definition Document' seems like a better way. It is more definitive. As an owner's representative, not many owners know what a charter is...and neither do many project managers!!
actually this is not a good term - when we see project definition this is usually a lengthy document - it is more of scope statement rather than a charter
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Anonymous
May 17, 2016 5:10 PM
Replying to Mark Schwartz
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Samuel
The term 'Project Definition Document' seems like a better way. It is more definitive. As an owner's representative, not many owners know what a charter is...and neither do many project managers!!
I am sure some owner's rep might not know what a charter is - but ask for the document that authorized the project - if non-exist, then a problem :-)
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Anonymous
May 17, 2016 5:24 PM
Replying to Mark Schwartz
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Since I am on a roll, let me ask just one more question. How many project managers use the Earned Value technique? Again, in my many, many, many years as a construction project manager, I don't recall other project managers using this method.
Hi Mark

I like these questions :-)

Again - any company with a decent maturity (even low) will use some form of project control and forecasting. They might not use the EVM terms.

Again - unless you are dealing with small companies (mom & pop kind of establishment) and in that case they are "going with the flow".

I have worked on projects in Oil & Gas and these are must - by owners and contractors. If contractors do not use some of these techniques then they will not last long unless they can have a lot of contingencies.
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Anonymous
By the way - in construction companies the PM might not be doing EVM themselves but an indpendent project control unit might be doing this
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Mark Schwartz Project Manager| Certified Construction Consultants LLC Royal Palm Beach, Fl, United States
Mounir

Thank you for your responses to my questions. I never liked the term "charter" because it doesn't make sense. I like the other terms that you describe. I think that a "scope statement" is a goodr term because that should describe the limits of the project and all of the stakeholders should know the scope of work so they don't have surprises later.
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