Process Definition
Developing the project charter is the process of drafting a document that will formally give the authority and authorization to the project manager to utilize organizational resources to complete the project goals. The charter should be well-defined and include boundaries as well as demonstrate a formal record of the project. This process provides the project team a clear understanding of the business processes required to complete the project as well as financial constraints.
Figure 4. Project Management Body of Knowledge Figure 4-2. Reprinted from "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th Edition" by Project Management Institute, 2013, p. 66. Copyright 2013 by Project Management Institute, Inc. Reprinted without permission.
Process Assessment
The project charter is a critical document. It is similar to a contract in the sense it establishes the required partnerships between the performing and requesting organizations. This is the documents that will establish agreements between parties as to who will be responsible of various degrees of work within the project scope. When developing a project charter it is good to use tools and techniques that have been proven to be successful. A few techniques like expert judgement of subject matter experts, consultants, the Project Management Office (PMO), can all be of great help when drafting the project charter. Once drafted the charter should provide a clear definition of the scope, schedule, cost of the project. It is vitally important the project tam has a clear vision and direction of the project to ensure project success.
(Inputs) Statement of Work
This
statement of work (SOW) has been provided as an example of understanding the
requirements of a project charter. The statement of work is an input to this
process, providing the business need and a product scope description for the
Project Charter. The example is from PMGT 614 Planning, Directing, and Controlling Projects, WBS 1.9 Write a Procurement Statement of Work.
(Tools & Techniques) Expert Judgement
This document
provides an example of understanding of how expert judgement techniques play
a critical task in developing the project charter. Project Managers need to
have a clear picture of what is required for project completion. Expert
judgement can help to provide specialized knowledge and training that might be
required. The example is an excerpt from a group project in PGMT 612 Leading Projects Across Cultural, Corporate, and International
Boundaries, that was written by Jeremy Curbey, Khoi ChuChe, Corey Cowley, Reese Darlington, and Domingo Tuckler . The bold paragraph discusses expert judgement.
(Outputs) Project Charter
This document provides evidence of understanding the
requirements for a project charter. The charter defines scope, schedule, cost, identifies
the project manager for the project, and gives them the authority to utilize
company assets to complete the project. The example is an excerpt from a group project in PGMT 611 Anatomy of Project Organizations, that was written by Jeremy Curbey, Domingot Tuckler, and Reese Darlington.