PROJECT MANAGER ESSENTIALS
PREPARING A PROJECT CHARTER
The creation of a project charter is the first step in the project lifecycle. It formalises the project definition. It is a mandate for action and specifies what would go into the project and what is outside the boundary.
This is also a way in which the senior management formally accepts or commits to the project (PMBOK,2013)
'A thoughtful project charter indicates the end but does not specify the means. The means should be left to the Project manager, team leader and other members.'(Luecke, Press, and Review, 2004).
The matrix shows how team perform better when the ends and specified and the means are not (Luecke, Press, and Review, 2004).
DEFINING GOALS
It is important that the goals that are defined are unambiguous in nature. The goals that are set SMARTly are easier to achieve.
Contents Of a Project Charter
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Name of Project Sponsor
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Relationship between the project goals and the higher organisation goals.
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Benefits of Project to the organisation.
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Expected time frame of work.
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Assumptions and constraints.
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Stakeholder list.
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High-level risks involved.
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Concise description of project deliverables.
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Budget, allocation and resources available t o the Project Team.
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Project Manager's authority.
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Sponsor's Sign-off/ signature.
