The project charter is one of the most critical documents created at the start of a new project, as it formally authorizes the project and provides a foundation for all future work. This comprehensive document clearly outlines key details including the project’s objectives, business case, high-level requirements, and scope.
Description
The project charter delineates the statement of work, laying out the high-level parameters of the initiative, including the business needs driving it, key milestones and deliverables, roles and responsibilities, and measures for success. This enables all parties to align on the intended goals, timeframe, and requirements early on. The project charter helps you with the following:
- Formally authorizes the project.
- Gives the project manager authority to spend money and resources to execute and deliver expectations.
- Ties project outcomes to customer expectations.
- Communicates the overall project commitment towards a goal.
- Used as input to the overall project management plan that will follow.
