How to Create a Project Charter

A project charter authorises your project and gives you the mandate to lead it. Here is how to write one that actually earns sign-off.

For the full concept, see Project Charter.

Steps

1. Confirm the sponsor and the business need the project addresses.
2. Write a clear objective and measurable success criteria (make them SMART).
3. Define high-level scope — and, explicitly, what is out of scope.
4. Summarise budget, timeline, key milestones, major risks and assumptions.
5. List key stakeholders and name the project manager and their authority.
6. Get the sponsor to review and sign — the signature is what confers authority.