What Is a Project Charter?

A project charter "lays the foundation of the project. It includes a statement of your bushiness needs…the chareter forms a contract with all stakeholders involved in the project (Project Planning for PMs, 2018, para 1). The OD practitioner will refer to the project charter throughout the life of the project.

The project charter, along with approved change requests, is the guiding document for the steering committee and project team. It defines the goals and objectives of the project, scope of work to be completed, approach to the project, deliverables, milestones, and project structure.

“The project charter is a single, consolidated source of information about the project in terms of initiation and planning. Basically, the project charter defines the boundaries of the project, no matter what type of project management methodology you are using. It is much more than an effective planning tool. It serves both as an anchor, holding you to your objectives, and as a navigator, guiding you through the milestones that will mark your progress” (Project Planning for PMs, 2008, para 1).

Thus, the project charter needs to be developed along with the sponsor. The project charter should be much more detailed than a proposal, although the proposal may be a good starting point. It is important to remember the process of involving the sponsor in defining the scope is critical.

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