How to Write a Project Charter, with Examples [2023] • Asana (2024)

Getting started on a new project or initiative can be an exciting feeling. But what about the step right before that, when you need to get your project approved?

The project pitching and approval process can feel like a black box if you’ve never done it before. From gathering the right information to presenting it in a way that works for your project stakeholders, you want to make sure you have the materials you need to succeed. One way to do that is with a project charter.

What is a project charter?

A project charter is an elevator pitch of your project objectives, project scope, and project responsibilities in order to get approval from key project stakeholders. In the charter, you should provide a short, succinct explanation of the main elements of your project before you get started. By creating a project charter before getting started on other, more in-depth project planning documents, you can get approval or course-correct if necessary.

A project charter is one of many project planning materials you can create. Here’s how it compares to other project planning elements:

Create a project charter template

Project charters vs. project plans

A project charter should only include three elements: your project objectives, scope, and responsibilities. Once your charter has been approved, you should then create a project plan. Your project plan builds on your project charter to provide a more in-depth blueprint of the key elements of your project.

There are seven key elements in a project plan:

  • Goals

  • Success metrics

  • Stakeholders and roles

  • Scope and budget

  • Milestones and deliverables

  • Timeline and schedule

  • Communication plan

Read: Create a better project plan in just 7 steps

Project charters vs. project briefs

Aproject briefis a short document that you should create after your project has been officially approved. The brief is a condensed version of your project plan that your project team and stakeholders can refer back to frequently. Your brief, like the charter, provides context about why this project is a good idea, in addition to what you’ll be doing during the project.

A project brief has four parts:

  • Background information

  • Project objectives and success criteria

  • Project timeline

  • Target audience

Read: 5 steps to writing a clear project brief

Project charter vs. business case

A project charter andbusiness casehave the same fundamentals: these are both tools to pitch a project to the appropriate stakeholders. The main difference between a project charter and a business case is scope.

A business case is a formal document that explains the benefits and risks of a significant business investment. For example, if you’re pitching a large-scale investment with an external agency, a significant increase in current business practices, or a new product line or service, you’d want to create a business case. Alternatively, if your project needs approval but it’s smaller in scope—for example, a campaign that’s similar to past campaigns or a product launch that fits within your current go-to-market strategy—create a project charter instead.

Read: The beginner’s guide to writing an effective business case

Do you need a project charter?

There are a variety of project planning tools, and a project charter isn’t always the best one for the job. Here’s when to create one—and when you might be better off creating something else.

  • Create a project charterto pitch and get approval for a project. A project charter gives stakeholders a clear sense of your project objectives, scope, and responsibilities. Key stakeholders can use the project charter to approve a project or suggest changes.

  • Create a business caseif your project represents a significant business investment. A business case includes additional information and documentation, including the project’s return on investment and anyrelevant project risks.

  • Create a project planif your project has been approved. A project plan will build on your project charter to provide additional information, like the project timeline orkey project milestones.

  • Create a project briefif you want to create a document that summarizes the key high-level details of your project plan.

  • Create anexecutive summaryif you want to provide a summary of your document to executive stakeholders.

  • Create aproject roadmapif you want to view a high-level timeline of your project in aGantt chart.

Create a project charter template

How to create a project charter

In a project charter, you’ll share project details with key stakeholders in order to get approval to kick off your project. There are three main project charter elements:

The “why”

To begin your project charter, share yourproject objectivesand project purpose. In this section, you should outline why this project is important and what the key objectives are for the end of the project. Make sure your project purpose clearly explains why it’s important to work on this project and how this project will support your company goals.

In addition to your project purpose, you should also clarify your project objectives. These are the things you plan to achieve by the end of the project, like deliverables or assets. To create good project objectives, follow theSMART method. Make sure your objectives are:

  • Specific

  • Measurable

  • Achievable

  • Realistic

  • Time-bound

Read: How to write an effective project objective, with examples

The “what”

The second key element in your project charter is the project scope. Your project scope statement defines exactly what is and isn’t part of the project. When you draft a project scope, you’re setting boundaries and, more importantly, outlining what you won’t do during the project timeline.

As you create your project charter, the most important part of explaining scope is outlining the ideal project budget. Remember, you will use your project charter document to pitch this project to stakeholders—so you need to clearly show what the budget is and where that money will go.

Read: The quick guide to defining project scope—in 8 steps

The “who”

In the final section of your project charter, you should explain who will be working on the project. This includes any key project stakeholders, executive stakeholders, project sponsors, and the general project team. If you haven’t already, draft up a brief resource management plan to illustrate how various resources will be allocated during the project.

Read: Your guide to getting started with resource management

Project charter examples

How to Write a Project Charter, with Examples [2023] • Asana (1)

Project charter template

When you’re ready to get started, follow this easy-to-use template to create your next project charter.

Create a project charter template

Project name

Name your project. Make sure this is descriptive enough that most people will understand what you’re working on.

Project manager

Who is the point of contact for this project?

Last revision date

Your project charter is a living document. Including the last revision date can be helpful for team members who are frequently checking back on the charter.

Project purpose

Why are you working on this project?

Project objectives

What deliverables and assets do you plan to achieve by the end of the project?

Project scope

What are the boundaries of your project deliverables? Which initiatives are not included in the project?

Project team and resources

Who is working on this project? Which resources (e.g. people, tools, and budget) are available for this work.

Stakeholders and approvers

Who are the project stakeholders? Who needs to approve the project charter or any project deliverables?

Read: RFQ template: 6 steps to create a request for quotation

From project charter to project success

Once your project charter has been approved, you can move forward with project planning. As you create additional project planning documents and get started with project management, make sure you are storing all of your project details in a centralized tool that everyone can access.

Naturally, we think Asana is the best tool for the job. With Asana, you can manage team projects and tasks to stay in sync and hit your deadlines. Learn more about thebenefits of project management.

Create a project charter template

How to Write a Project Charter, with Examples [2023] • Asana (2024)

FAQs

How to Write a Project Charter, with Examples [2023] • Asana? ›

To create your project charter template, add sections for each element above. Within each section, add more specific tasks to guide your team through the project charter creation process.

Can you create a project charter in Asana? ›

To create your project charter template, add sections for each element above. Within each section, add more specific tasks to guide your team through the project charter creation process.

What are the 5 components of a project charter? ›

What Are the Contents of a Project Charter? A project charter should always include an overview, an outline of scope, an approximate schedule, a budget estimate, anticipated risks, and key stakeholders. Each of these sections should be brief, but as thorough as possible.

What are the 3 main parts to a project charter? ›

A project charter should only include three elements: your project objectives, scope, and responsibilities. Once your charter has been approved, you should then create a project plan.

What is project charter with example? ›

A project charter is a formal short document that states a project exists and provides project managers with written authority to begin work. A project charter document describes a project to create a shared understanding of its goals, objectives and resource requirements before the project is scoped out in detail.

What is the difference between a project plan and a project charter? ›

Project charter vs project management plan

A project charter is intended for the project sponsor, key stakeholders, and senior management, while a project management plan is intended for the project manager, project team, and other involved parties.

What are six major elements of a project charter? ›

Project Charter elements include, but are not limited to:
  • Statements of Work (SOW)
  • Agreements.
  • Project Description.
  • Project Organization.
  • Roles and Responsibilities.
  • Risks.
  • Budget.
  • Summary Schedule of Deliverables.
May 30, 2022

What is not included in project charter? ›

It is a high-level document that does not include the project details. The specifics of project activities will be developed later. It includes the summary level preliminary project budget.

What are the 4 major sections of the project charter? ›

The project charter typically documents the following parts of the project:
  • Project objectives and constraints.
  • Key stakeholders.
  • Risks identified.
  • Benefits of the project.
  • General overview of the budget.

What are key deliverables in a project charter? ›

What are the key deliverables in a project? A key deliverable is anything that is produced or provided as a result of a process. When goals are met, deliverables are produced, and when the over-arching project is accomplished, your key deliverable has been created.

What is the key requirement of a successful project charter? ›

A primary purpose of a project charter is to establish the project's objectives. It should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). The project charter should also include a high-level overview of the project's deliverables.

What is a charter template? ›

What Is a Project Charter Template? A project charter template is a tool for defining project objectives, scope, and the required resources. Project managers can use a project charter template to outline the project in order to receive buy-in and approval from stakeholders.

How long should a project charter be? ›

While the formatting and presentation of a project charter may vary – from a few paragraphs to as long as 50 pages, it's often recommended to keep it short (less than 5 pages.)

What is a short note on a project charter? ›

A project charter is a short document used in project planning to outline the key aims and benefits of a project. It's an at-a-glance guide to why a project is taking place. It's used both as a marketing tool, useful to get buy-in from stakeholders, and a reference point to keep the project on track.

Do all projects need a project charter? ›

Project charters are an important part of effective project management, but they aren't always needed. Just remember: When you're working on budget and resource planning, a project charter template is a great tool because it will lay out, at a high level, the scope, time, and cost of projects.

Is a project charter a proposal? ›

A project charter is a reference document that defines the project objectives as well as furnishing the project manager with the authority to manage the project. On the other hand, a proposal is a persuasive document that convinces the stakeholders regarding why the project should be carried out.

What comes after a project charter? ›

Once you have a project charter - which comes after the business case - the next step is to do the project planning. It is not the sponsor's job to lead that effort, rather it is the project manager's responsibility who will do C and D, as necessary.

What are some examples of charter? ›

A proprietary charter was issued to a single person, the proprietor, who was in charge of the colony. For example, King Charles II issued a proprietary charter to the Duke of York, who established the colony of New York, and one to William Penn, who established the colony of Pennsylvania.

What does a good team charter look like? ›

It articulates your team's mission, scope of operation, objectives, and commitment. For a project, it can also spell out a timeframe and its consequences. The most effective team charters detail a team's focus, direction, and boundaries. It reduces confusion, duplication, and repetition.

What are some team charter example values? ›

Team Values

Others to consider include a long list, such as dependability, reliability, loyalty, commitment, open-mindedness, consistency, honesty, efficiency, and the like. The key is to have the team put together the list in order to have buy-in and commitment.

How do you create a project charter in 7 easy steps? ›

To create a project charter, follow the below steps.
  1. Identify the project vision.
  2. Identify the stakeholders and the customers.
  3. Create an organizational chart.
  4. Define project milestones.
  5. Create a resource plan.
  6. Set the budget for the project.
  7. List down the dependencies, constraints, and risks.
  8. Lay out the implementation plan.
Nov 29, 2022

What is the difference between a team charter and a project charter? ›

🎓️ The difference between team and project charters.

A team charter focuses on one team, its members, and how they'll collaborate – often on many projects. A project charter lists requirements for one project, which may involve members and resources from across one or more organizations.

What are the examples of project deliverables? ›

What Are Examples of Deliverables? Examples of deliverables include an initial project strategy report, the budget report, a progress report, a beta product, a test result report, and any other quantifiable aspects of a project that mark a completion.

What is a Six Sigma project charter? ›

What Is a Project Charter in Six Sigma? A project charter in Six Sigma is a two-page document that outlines a process improvement project. The charter contains data-driven information explaining the need for the project. Once approved, the document becomes the Six Sigma team's primary reference.

What are the smart elements of a project charter? ›

  • What are SMART goals?
  • Specific. The goal should target a specific area of improvement or answer a specific need. ...
  • Measurable. The goal must be quantifiable, or at least allow for measurable progress. ...
  • Attainable. The goal should be realistic and based on available resources and existing constraints. ...
  • Relevant. ...
  • Time-bound.

What are the principles of a project charter? ›

The project charter includes: Purpose and objectives of the project in clear, concise language. Requirements of the project at a very high level and without much detail. Project description in a paragraph or two that explains the project.

Who approves project charter? ›

Typically the Project Sponsor approves the charter by signing it (or indicating approval digitally). There may be multiple sponsors, particularly if this is a major project that requires heavy involvement from more than one department.

Which step is most important for a project to close? ›

A post-mortem or project review is one of the most valuable steps of the project closure process. This is a time to review the successes, failures, and challenges of the project and identify opportunities for improvement going forward.

Does a project charter include a WBS? ›

The Project Charter goes first; it is feed from the Project Statement of Work which you get from the client. From here you create the Project Scope which identifies the deliverables and from here you can create the WBS which decomposes the deliverables in Work Packages and Activities.

Which of the following statements must be included in the project charter? ›

Which of the following must be included in the project charter? Answer C is correct. The product description is one of the three requirements of the project charter, as described by the PMBOK. The other alternatives may appear in some organization's charters, but these vary and are not mandated by PMI.

What is a project roadmap? ›

A project roadmap is a basic visual representation of what is expected to happen during a project, and when. It lays out the project in a digestible timeline format that will keep all project stakeholders on the same page.

What is the first element of the project charter? ›

The first element in the Six Sigma project charter is the business case. The business case contains a description of the Big Y, i.e., the reason for taking up the project. It defines the quantifiable benefit of the project and how it aligns with business strategy or goals in the Six Sigma project charter.

What are the 5 key deliverables? ›

Define the course of action to achieve the scope of the project.
  • Project Work plan*
  • Requirements Document.
  • Stakeholders register.
  • Risk & Issues Log.
  • Communications plan*
  • Training Plan.
  • Plans and Requirements Document Acceptance*

What is the difference between tasks and deliverables? ›

Tasks—Items that need to be completed. Deliverables—Things that need to be produced (e.g. documents). Milestones—Project deadlines, marking the completion of a phase or stage of a project.

What are two types of deliverables? ›

Common types of deliverables include tangible or intangible (like hardware or a number-based target), internal or external (works created for internal use or external stakeholders), and final or process (main goal or small outputs that help the team achieve it).

What are the examples of inputs to the Develop project charter process? ›

The inputs to the charter are normally documented decisions, and can include the following:
  • Contract (where applicable)
  • Project statement of work.
  • Enterprise environmental factors.
  • Organisational process assets.
  • The project statement of work (S. O. W.)
Apr 18, 2020

Which of the following is not an example of a project? ›

Answer and Explanation: The correct answer is b. Emptying the recycling everyday.

What are the 3 types of charter? ›

The three most common types of charter contracts are the voyage charter, the time charter, and the demise (or bareboat) charter.
  • Voyage Charter. ...
  • Time Charter. ...
  • The Demise Charter. ...
  • Contract of Affreightment.
Mar 10, 2022

What question should a project charter answer? ›

Consider your project charter a kick-off meeting in a short document format. It should answer any high-level question you, your project team, project sponsor, or key stakeholders would ask in that meeting. Starting off with the very reason this project is necessary, as you will: Define the goals and KPIs.

Does Word have a project charter template? ›

Use this free Project Charter Template for Word to manage your projects better. This project charter template allows you to document all the general information about your project such as its scope, stakeholders, deliverables, goals and objectives, among other things.

Does a project charter have a timeline? ›

A project timeline is a detailed schedule that highlights all of the tasks involved, a deadline for each, the milestones the team should hit along the way, and when the entire project can be considered complete. A project charter will come first, and the timeline will come later.

What comes before project charter? ›

The project charter is drafted after the proposal is approved and before the scope is defined. It follows the natural order of approvals and the hierarchy for budget approvals.

Does a project charter have a schedule? ›

A schedule is created by the PM during the Project Charter process, which provides a timeline of high- level project deliverables during each of the Project Process Phases. The schedule developed at this stage is not intended to be as detailed or precise as the construction schedule maintained by the contractor.

Which three pieces of information must you include in a project goals document? ›

A project goal document includes a timeline, stakeholders, and objectives. After speaking with team members and stakeholders, you should have a clear statement that defines your project goal.

How do I create a project board in Asana? ›

Creating a board project

Select Project from the drop-down menu. Click +Blank Project. A pop up window will next give you the option to add your project details. Here you can choose Board as your project layout and default view.

Is there a project charter in agile? ›

What Is an Agile Project Charter? ”An Agile project charter is a living, updateable document that serves as a roadmap through the Agile process. It outlines a project's scope, objectives, and deliverables, ensuring that everyone is working toward a common purpose.

How do I create a project brief in Asana? ›

To add a project brief, click on the Create project brief icon under the Key resources section of your project overview. Next add more context by filling in more details. You can also use the Suggested content in the right hand sidebar.

How many pages should a project charter be? ›

While the formatting and presentation of a project charter may vary – from a few paragraphs to as long as 50 pages, it's often recommended to keep it short (less than 5 pages.)

What should be completed first when creating a project charter? ›

To create a project charter, follow the below steps.
  1. Identify the project vision.
  2. Identify the stakeholders and the customers.
  3. Create an organizational chart.
  4. Define project milestones.
  5. Create a resource plan.
  6. Set the budget for the project.
  7. List down the dependencies, constraints, and risks.
  8. Lay out the implementation plan.
Nov 29, 2022

How long does it take to write a charter for a project? ›

Typically a project charter is about 1-2 pages long and is written in a formal style by a project initiator or investor. However, it often becomes a project manager's duty, due to their competence in the project management sphere.

How can I use Asana more effectively? ›

The 22 most important asana tips
  1. Define the due date and the responsible person for each task. ...
  2. Use color codes. ...
  3. Use project templates for recurring processes. ...
  4. Use the Chrome extensions for Asana. ...
  5. Convert emails directly to tasks in Asana. ...
  6. Visualize your schedule. ...
  7. Use customized fields. ...
  8. Create sections in your tasks.

How do I create a project timeline in Asana? ›

Create tasks in list or board view, then head to timeline to start mapping out deadlines and dependencies. Drag any unscheduled task onto timeline to schedule it. For portfolios, projects with start and due dates will appear on timeline.

Does a project charter include deliverables? ›

As already defined, a project charter is a high-level description of the project and its deliverables.

Is a project charter a Gantt chart? ›

It's typically formatted as a gantt chart with task deadlines and milestones mapped out on a timeline so you can track progress along the way.

How do you write a brief example? ›

Here are the general steps you should take to write a brief:
  1. Explain the goals and motivations. You should start your brief by writing about the project background and brand. ...
  2. Highlight specific objectives and challenges. ...
  3. Describe your target audience. ...
  4. Examine competitors. ...
  5. Ask for feedback.
Mar 10, 2023

What are the 7 parts of a design brief? ›

The anatomy of a design brief
  • Company profile. ...
  • Project overview. ...
  • Goals and objectives. ...
  • Target audience. ...
  • Design requirements. ...
  • Budget and schedule.
Jul 13, 2020

How do I use Asana as a project management tool? ›

How to use Asana for project management
  1. Step 1: Set up a project. Even before setting up your project in Asana, consider how you want to view it. ...
  2. Step 2: Create tasks. Populate your project with tasks. ...
  3. Step 3: Organize your plan. ...
  4. Step 4: Manage the project. ...
  5. Step 5: Close out the project.
Aug 5, 2022

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