PROJECT CHARTER

I. Introduction to Project Charter.

A Project Charter is a formal document that authorizes the existence of a project, outlines the
project's objectives, and grants the project manager the authority to allocate resources. It serves
as a reference throughout the project life cycle and is critical for ensuring alignment between the
project's stakeholders.

Key Elements of a Project Charter:

1. Project Title and Description:

o A brief but clear statement of what the project is about.
o Should outline the project's purpose and the key objectives it seeks to achieve.
2. Project Objectives:
o Clear, measurable goals that are aligned with the business needs.
o These should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound
(SMART).
3. Scope and Deliverables:
o Defines what is within the scope of the project and what is excluded.
o Describes the major deliverables expected from the project (products, services,
outcomes).
4. Project Requirements:
o Details any constraints, assumptions, and requirements that must be met for the
project to succeed.
5. Project Milestones:
o Key dates or phases in the project life cycle that must be achieved. These
represent significant accomplishments or checkpoints.
6. Budget and Resources:
o Estimated project cost and the resources required
Project Charter Format

A Project Charter is a formal document that outlines the purpose, objectives, scope, and
participants of a project. Below is a typical format for a Project Charter, which you can adapt to
suit your project's specific needs.

PROJECT CHARTER

1. Project Title:

• Name of the project.

2. Project Start Date:

• The date when the project officially begins.

3. Project End Date:

• The projected or planned date for project completion.

4. Project Manager:

• Name of the Project Manager, along with their role and contact details.

5. Project Sponsor(s):

• Name(s) of the project sponsor(s) who are accountable for providing support and
resources.

6. Purpose and Justification:

 • Project Purpose: A brief description of why the project is being initiated. This should
include the business case or the problem the project is aiming to solve.
• Justification: The reason why this project is important, often relating to business
objectives or organizational goals.

7. Project Objectives:

• Clear and measurable objectives of the project, aligned with the organization’s strategic
goals. These should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-
bound).

8. Scope Description:

• A high-level overview of what is in scope and out of scope for the project. This includes
the boundaries of the project, major deliverables, and any exclusions.
• In-scope: Activities or deliverables that will be part of the project.
• Out-of-scope: Activities or deliverables that will not be part of the project.

9. Key Deliverables:

• List of the major outputs the project is expected to produce.

• Examples: Reports, Software, Product prototypes, Final deliverables, etc.

10. Milestones and Timeline:

• High-level milestones with estimated completion dates.

• Example Milestones:
o Kick-off Meeting
o Requirements Gathering
o Design Completion
o Implementation/Execution
o Final Delivery

11. Budget Estimate:

 • A high-level estimate of the total cost for the project. This includes costs related to labor,
materials, equipment, software, etc.

12. Resources:

• Human Resources: The project team members and their roles.

• Physical Resources: Equipment, tools, or facilities required for the project.
• Technology Resources: Software, hardware, or platforms to be used.

13. Assumptions:

• Key assumptions made at the time of project planning (e.g., availability of resources,
access to data, stakeholders' support).

14. Constraints:

• Limitations or restrictions that could affect the project (e.g., budget constraints, time
limitations, regulatory requirements).

15. Risks:

• High-level potential risks that could impact the project’s success, including strategies for
risk mitigation.

16. Stakeholders:

• List of all stakeholders involved in or affected by the project, including their roles and
interests.

17. Approval Requirements:

• Criteria or processes for determining if the project or its deliverables are complete,
including who will give final approval.

18. Authorization:
 • Sign-off section for the Project Sponsor and other key stakeholders to formally approve
the charter and authorize the project to proceed.

Example Project Charter

Project Charter: Website Redesign for XYZ Corp.

1. Project Title:
Website Redesign for XYZ Corp.

2. Project Start Date:

January 15, 2024

3. Project End Date:

June 15, 2024

4. Project Manager:
Jane Smith
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (555) 123-4567

5. Project Sponsor(s):
John Doe, Chief Marketing Officer, XYZ Corp.
Emily White, IT Director, XYZ Corp.

6. Purpose and Justification:

• Purpose: The purpose of this project is to redesign the corporate website to improve user
experience, functionality, and responsiveness across all devices.
• Justification: The current website has become outdated and does not support mobile
users, which has resulted in a drop in traffic and customer engagement. The redesign will
address these issues and align with the company's digital marketing strategy.
7. Project Objectives:

• Complete the website redesign with a mobile-responsive interface by June 15, 2024.
• Improve website traffic by 25% within 3 months of the redesign launch.
• Ensure the website is compliant with all current accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1).
• Implement a new content management system (CMS) for easier updates by internal staff.

8. Scope Description:

• In-Scope:
o Redesign of the homepage, internal pages, and blog sections.
o Integration of e-commerce functionality.
o Development of a CMS interface for content management.
• Out-of-Scope:
o Redesign of the corporate branding or logo.
o Any new features or services beyond what is outlined in the redesign.

9. Key Deliverables:

• Initial website wireframes and design concepts.

• Final website design.
• Developed and tested website on staging server.
• Final implementation and live deployment.

10. Milestones and Timeline:

• Kickoff Meeting: January 15, 2024

• Complete Design Phase: February 28, 2024
• Development Phase: March 1–April 30, 2024
• Testing Phase: May 1–May 15, 2024
• Final Delivery/Go-Live: June 15, 2024

11. Budget Estimate:

$150,000 (for design, development, testing, and deployment).
12. Resources:

• Human Resources:
o Project Manager: Jane Smith
o Web Designer: Alex Brown
o Developer: Sarah Lee
o Content Specialist: Mark Taylor
o IT Support: Mike Johnson
• Technology Resources:
o WordPress CMS, Google Analytics, Adobe XD for design.
• Physical Resources:
o Web servers, testing devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).

13. Assumptions:

• Necessary resources (designers, developers, etc.) will be available as needed.

• The content for the new website will be provided by the marketing team by March 31,
2024.

14. Constraints:

• The project must be completed within the allocated $150,000 budget.

• The new website must be launched by June 15, 2024, to align with the marketing
campaign.

15. Risks:

• Risk of scope creep due to additional features requested by stakeholders.

• Risk of delays in content delivery from the marketing team.

16. Stakeholders:

• John Doe (Project Sponsor, CMO)

• Emily White (IT Director)
 • Marketing Department (Content and branding)
• Customers (End-users)

17. Approval Requirements:

• The project will be considered complete when all major functionalities are deployed and
tested successfully. Final approval will be provided by John Doe (CMO) and Emily
White (IT Director).

18. Authorization:

• Project Sponsor: [Signature]

• Project Manager: [Signature]
• Date: [Date]

This format covers all the necessary elements for a comprehensive Project Charter. It serves as a
roadmap for the project and ensures alignment and understanding across all stakeholders. You
can adjust the level of detail based on your project’s complexity and size.