Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1. Objective: This section provides the business case or rationale for the project. It also specifically articulates the expected
outcome. Project’s results must be measured against the objectives set in this section.
2. Scope: What is covered? Perhaps, more importantly, what is not? This section clearly articulates the scope of the project.
The team must resist any and all attempts to alter scope during the project. There are always good reasons to alter scope
but those are usually also the fatal flaws that kill the project.
3. Assumptions: As my second grade teacher used to say, when you assume, you make an “ass” of “u” and “me”. Well, as
professionals, we are neither asses nor want to make one of our stakeholders. So, we should take this invaluable
opportunity to list all assumptions. It might not be humanly possible to list them all but the key ones must be clearly
articulated and documented.
4. Team: The team composition, structure, roles and responsibilities must also be part of the project charter. This ensures
clarity of roles and responsibility among the team members and others who interact with it. It also makes sure that key
roles have been identified and filled with appropriately skilled talent.
5. Governance: It is important to document the governance structure for the project. For example, listing the steering
committee and its members is invaluable. However, what is equally important is to list the policies and principles guiding
the team and assign specific responsibility for reporting issues and the stakeholder(s) responsible for addressing specific
types of issues.
6. Plan: This section includes both the approach and a Gantt chart of the key project phases or milestones and key
deliverables at each. A detailed project plan can be attached if available. However, the top level Gantt chart does more in
communicating the overall approach and direction of the project.
7. Done Statement: Last but certainly not the least, a project charter must include a statement that outlines the desired
outcome(s) of the project. These are different from objectives in that they provide specific, and measurable, parameters
that help answer the question: “are we done yet?” In other words, these measurable outcomes must be met in order for the
project to be considered a success. This done statement must be signed by each member of the team. It should also be
1. It must be documented
2. It must specifically articulate key assumptions
3. It must be developed collaboratively with the stakeholders
4. It must be communicated to all stakeholders
Following these rules, the team can make this document and what it represents more effective.
A project charter is a “must have” on all major projects. Time and effort spent on it provide returns exponentially greater.