Project Charter
[Insert Project Name]
Last Updated: [insert date]
Project Background and Description
[Describe how this project came to be, who is involved and what the purpose is]
Business Need/Opportunity
[Also referred to as “problem statement”]
[The context of a problem is described in the business need, business opportunity or problem statement. This is an opportunity to explain the nature of the dilemma that the team will solve. The problem statement usually takes a paragraph form in which you are “telling the story” of why the team is working on this problem. The task of the team in the problem statement is to represent the nature, setting, and context of the project in a concise manner. In other words, it is the “What is” and is independent of any efforts or intentions on the part of your team. It explains what the broader need is, what the consequence of the problem not being solved is, and/or what the consequence of the problem being solved would be. You can present a number of ideas that are related to your specific problem. These ideas can include such things as: causes of the problem, factors that may aggravate or mitigate the problem, an explanation of how the problem effects the your agency, how the problem impacts your clients the role of the agency in the community the stake or importance that the agency in an acceptable solution to the problem, the urgency of a solution
High Level Goals and Objectives
Goal: [The project goal is a direction-setter and ideal future end related toward which planning and implementation activities are directed. A goal is generally not quantifiable, time-dependent or suggestive of specific actions for its achievement. Number goals to eventually associate with affected objectives, issues, risks, changes and requirements] 1. [insert goal] 2. [insert goal] 3. [insert goal] Objective: [Objectives are specific ends, conditions or states that are intermediate steps toward attaining a goal. They should be achievable and, when possible, measurable and time-specific. An objective may only pertain to one particular aspect of a goal or it may be one of several successive steps toward goal achievement. Consequently, there may be more than one objective for each goal. Number objectives to eventually associate with affected goals, issues, risks, changes and requirements]
1. [insert objective] 2. [insert objective] 3. [insert objective]
Template-Project Charter v2 11-10-04
1
Project Charter
[Insert Project Name]
Last Updated: [insert date]
Business Driver
[Driving forces that move the project forward]
Critical Success Factor
[Insert what must be accomplished by this project in order to satisfy the business driver.]
[Insert what business drivers are the impetus for this project (Business Reason, Federal Mandate, etc].
Benefits
[Describe what benefits will be realized as a result of this project.]
Guiding Principles
[Describe what guiding principles must be adhered to during this project (Compliance with ITBs, knowledge transfer to IT staff, etc).
Assumptions
[Describe any assumptions that the project team is currently operating under; specifically those assumptions that apply to the project or were used to develop the project charter]
Constraints
[Describe any parameters that must be met in order for this project to succeed; or any parameters which may become obstacles.]
Template-Project Charter v2 11-10-04
2
Project Charter
[Insert Project Name]
Last Updated: [insert date]
Approval and Authority to Proceed
We approve the project component as described above, and authorize the team to proceed.
Name
[type or sign name]
Title
Date
Prepared By:
Template-Project Charter v2 11-10-04
3