To make the concept clearer, we\u2019ve prepared a project charter example followed by a free project charter template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s dive into the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n
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- A project charter is a project management document that formally acknowledges the existence of a project and serves as an elevator pitch for the project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The main purpose of a project charter is to secure approvals for project execution from the stakeholders. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- There is no universal list of project charter elements, but a good project charter should ideally include 12 elements, some of which include project purpose, scope, deliverables, resources, milestones, risks, and others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The easiest way to create a project charter for stakeholders is to discuss all specifics with your team first and then briefly cover important project information in a premade template.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What is a project charter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A project charter is a project management document that formally acknowledges the existence of a project and serves as an elevator pitch for the project, aiming to secure approvals for its execution.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In essence, a project charter is a high-level overview of your project. It should include a brief explanation of the main elements of your project as this enables project stakeholders to understand your project scope<\/a>, objectives, and responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project sponsors or the person who initiated the project are usually the ones in charge of this document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When approved, the project charter gives a project manager the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are the 12 components of a project charter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There is no universal list of project charter elements, but a good project charter should ideally include the following 12 elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Project title,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- General project information,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Project purpose,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Scope,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Deliverables,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Resources,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Milestones,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Risks,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Project team structure, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Key stakeholders,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Success measurements, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Project approval.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s briefly explain each of these elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1 Project title<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your project name should always be straightforward and descriptive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, if you intend to create additional landing pages for products on the website you are developing, the name can be \u201cDeveloping new product landing pages \u2014 website X.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#2 General project information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The general information that every project charter should include is the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The project manager,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The project sponsor,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The business unit responsible for the project execution, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The date when the project was pitched.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
#3 Project purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your project should have justified reasons for being conducted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To identify the project purpose, try answering the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- What business needs will this particular project meet?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What do you want to achieve with your project?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How do your goals and objectives align with larger organizational goals?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Also, it\u2019s advised to use the SMART criteria<\/a> for setting your project goals and objectives more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\nFree project management software<\/h2>\n
Take control of your team's workload and achieve better project results with Plaky.<\/p>\n\n
\n Sign up<\/a>\n\n Learn more<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n ![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/plaky\/banners\/default.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n#4 Scope<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Briefly summarizing what will and will not be included in the project tasks ensures that you stay on the same page with your client and prevent misunderstandings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#5 Deliverables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Depending on your project type, deliverables<\/a> can be various products or services you get upon the completion of a project. Here are some common examples of key deliverables: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Business cases,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Landing pages for different products, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Prototypes, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wireframes, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Defining deliverables provides a clear end goal for your project, which makes your project charter much more valuable to stakeholders \u2014 and more likely to get approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#6 Project resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make sure you have an estimated project budget<\/a> to begin with. In addition to the financial considerations, you should also identify: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The number of people you\u2019ll need for the project,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The necessary equipment, and <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Other project resources<\/a>, depending on the industry, project type, and complexity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Identifying and organizing your project resources is much easier with a ready-made template. Check out our free resource planning templates below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 7 Resource Planning Templates for Excel & Plaky [Free Download]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
#7 Project milestones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Apart from predicting anticipated start and end dates, it\u2019s advised to identify all key project milestones<\/a> and when they will be completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#8 Risks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Providing a list of potential project risks<\/a> and explaining how they can affect the outcome of your project in the early stages can help mitigate more significant issues later in the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, take your time to ponder potential project risks and write down what could go wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\ud83d\udca1Plaky Pro Tip <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read this guide to learn how to implement risk management practices into your projects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Project Risk Management \u2014 An 8-Step Process to Success<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
#9 Project team structure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make a list of people who will participate in the project and specify their project roles and responsibilities<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To better define the team structure, try answering the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Who will be responsible for managing the project? <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Who are the other people who will be working on the project?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What are their responsibilities?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
#10 Key stakeholders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It is vital to name the main project stakeholders<\/a>, both those within or outside the organization, as they can have an influence on the project\u2019s outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In your project charter, you should mention who\u2019s in charge of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Funding,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Project charter approval, and <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Other key responsibilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
#11 Success measurements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Identify the metrics you will be using and the targets you want to achieve with your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take the budget key performance indicator<\/a> for an example \u2013 you can mark the project as successful if you achieve overall cost savings of $100,000 or reduce production time by 25%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#12 Project approval<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In the end, specify who signs off on the project, that is, who is in charge of approving the project charter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project charter example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now that we\u2019ve explained all the elements of a project charter, it is time to see the project charter in action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To illustrate the matter, we will provide an example of a project related to mobile application development with all the relevant parts of the project included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suppose you want to develop a food ordering app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, your sample project charter can look like the following example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Project Risk Management \u2014 An 8-Step Process to Success<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- 7 Resource Planning Templates for Excel & Plaky [Free Download]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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