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Download project charter template in Microsoft Word format.
The Correct Project Charter Format
Are you a project manager who has been tasked with developing a comprehensive and descriptive document for an upcoming project—one which will be distributed to all of the stakeholders involved? Would it be helpful if you had a sample displaying the proper project charter format to ensure no important elements were omitted? A well-written project charter can be a very effective tool for a project manager and can help facilitate communication among team members, but unless the document is formatted correctly it can often cause confusion and lead to obstacles. To help ensure that your document will serve its intended purpose, below we will outline a widely-used project charter format, along with the type of information that should normally be included in each section.
Project Charter Format
The following project charter format is the one generally used by project managers, largely because it presents each of the required elements in a logical order.
Paragraph One: Project Authorization
Authorization is the primary purpose of the project charter, giving permission from the project sponsor to the project manager to move forward with the project. Here is where you will also include a brief statement that describes the project and highlights it purpose, which could range from implementing a new system to upgrading an existing product or process, or performing research of some kind. It should also include information about the various topics that will be covered in the remainder of the document.
Paragraph Two: Project Scope
In this paragraph you will go into detail regarding the project’s scope—costs, scheduling, project time line, etc. This section should include information on the project’s purpose—what you plan to deliver—and the business need or opportunity the project addresses, which could range from fulfilling a business need or a social need to meeting a legal requirement.
Paragraph Three: Project Team
The “project team” section should first identify the project manager, with a statement that gives him/her authorization to recruit and employ the organization’s resources that will be needed to meet the various requirements of the project. Here is where you will also define the various components of the project that the project manager will be directly responsible for, including tasks such as scheduling, monitoring costs, and overseeing project implementation. Each team member should also be identified, along with their particular roles and responsibilities during this process.
Paragraph Four: Project Schedule
Not only should a project charter provide an estimated completion date—the date when all deliverables will be submitted to the project sponsor for approval—it should also present a series of milestones, or dates when certain phases are expected to begin and conclude.
Paragraph Five: Budget
The final component, and a very important part of the overall project charter format, is details on the project’s budget, including a breakdown of costs and an identification of all funding sources.
The correct project charter format is essential for communicating the various elements of the project, in a logical order that will facilitate understanding among all stakeholders.