Charters Articles

Organizations may choose to adopt a standard process for approving all projects. Using a template for all proposals can make the approval process easier and provide other benefits to the organization. This article provides a simple template, instructions on filling it out, and a sample completed project charter.

Any organization developing their own standard process to charter new projects can use this template as a starting point and customize it.

Four examples of possible project charters, with an explanation for each showing why it is or is not a charter. The examples are useful teaching examples, designed to challenge people’s ideas of what a project charter is and is not.

The best time to market your project to your organization is at the very start, in the project charter. It is the best chance you have to tie the project into the organizational strategy and to explain its value. Yet the charter is one of the least talked about deliverables in project management.

This material helps you market your projects by preparing a great charter. Learn how simple a good charter can be. Understand how this document can help build executive support and provide documented authorization for your work. Focus on creating a lasting, respectful bond with your senior managers or executive sponsors. It all starts with the charter.

Presented at PMI 2005 North America Congress in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 12, 2005. Presented again at a meeting of the PMI New York City Chapter on February 15, 2006.