Project Approach Section
A Project Charter should also include a Project Approach section, giving a high-level overview of how and when the project will be completed. There are several standard components that normally comprise the Project Approach Section. In the following section are eight key components determined to be the most important. For a description of all components, download the Project Charter Template located in the Media Gallery.
- Project Deliverables and Quality Objectives: List the major deliverables of the project and include when these goals should be achieved. Most importantly, remember to include the key milestones of the project.
- Organization and Responsibilities: Include a summary of all parties that will be involved in the project and what their roles will be. Also, list the needed skills and expertise that each individual brings to the project as well as each person's responsibilities.
- Project Resources: In addition to the human component, what other resources will be needed for satisfactory completion of the project? Provide a list of computer equipment, raw materials, working space, and any other resources that might be taxed during the project's life cycle. If certain resources will only be needed during specific phases of the project, make note of that as well.
- Risk Management: Give an overview of the risks that may be encountered during the project as well as how these risks may be minimized. Risk mitigation and action steps can be listed. A step-by-step guide for writing a risk management plan is available in the article, How to Write a Risk Management Plan.
- Process Options and Deviations: Explain which of your organization's project management methodologies will be employed for this project. If you plan to deviate from standard means and methodologies, explain that as well.
- Process Stages: Give a basic breakdown of the project life cycle, and list the various stages that your project will go through. Make sure to include the objectives of each stage and why the stage is necessary.
- Project Control: The project control component explains the tools that will be used to assist the project manager in tracking the project's progress. It also serves as a communication device for communicating the project's progress to the project team, project sponsor, and project stakeholders.
- Project Schedule: Provide a high-level schedule that lists, among other things, the key milestones and stages of the project. Various exhibits, such as a Gantt chart (including the associated Work Breakdown Structure) should be included in this section. Here, it can be quite advantageous to use a project management software tool to produce a schedule that can be monitored and adjusted as the project progresses. Depending on the size of the project, such tools can be critical to its success.
Project Approval Section
The Approval section of a Project Charter may be the simplest section to put together, but it is one of the most critical in terms of the project's eventual success. This section should list all of the names and roles of the major stakeholders along with their signatures, indicating that each of these individuals is satisfied with the details included in the Project Charter.
In addition, if the project will require resources from other departments or groups, a representative from each of these divisions should be listed in the Approval section as well. The signatures of these individuals will signify that they accept their own responsibilities for successful completion of the project and agree to provide needed support.
References and Additional Information Sources
Bright Hub wishes to acknowledge the aid and the valuable resources found in NWCG Project Charter Guidelines.
For more in-depth information about what a Project Charter is, and why it is instrumental in project management, read the article What is a Project Charter. An easy to use template for developing a Project Charter is available in the Project Managment Media Gallery.
Conclusion
This basic Project Charter can be adapted to fit any organization and an array of projects, including technology-driven projects. The ease and flow of project completion is directly due to the care taken with the preparation of a Project Charter. A good Project Charter literally keeps everyone involved in any way on the same page.