Project Charter

Part 1

Project Charter Information

Project Name

Create a title for your Project Charter. Make the title specific and distinct from other projects so the reader knows the goal and wants to learn more!

Executive Sponsor

Identify this person by role and title (no names) and briefly describe why this person was selected (rationale for the selection).

Gap Analysis

Discuss the current practice for the practice problem, such as the current the policy/procedure or what is currently done. Explain the background and significance of the proposed practice problem with the organization.

Explain how you identified the “gap” or opportunity for change.

Provide empirical and contextual evidence to support the gap, need, or improvement. National data and internal data at YOUR research site. This needs to be very specific and actual data.

Describe the desired condition.

Include your Gap Analysis tool as an appendix to this document (examples includes RCA, Fishbone, DMAIC).

Evidence to Support the Need

Consider primary and secondary data sources, regulatory requirements, clinical practice guidelines, and benchmarking data to support your proposed intervention or practice change. Include 3-4 citations (published within the last five years) that substantiate the gap or problem exists and why improvement is needed. The citations need to support your proposed change in practice.

PICOT

Develop a problem statement (1-2 sentences): Current state, identified problem/gap and the desired or expected state.

Project Aim

Describe the overarching aim (goal/outcome) of the project, including the goals, the anticipated impact on the population/system/organization, why you are addressing it (importance/relevance) and pertinent background or historical information.

Part II

Stakeholders

Stakeholder

Identify the key stakeholders for your project. Think of key stakeholders (internal and external). This might include patients/clients, families, community leaders and organizations, health agencies, systems within the organization etc. List between 3-4 potential stakeholder members

Initials or ficitious name

Title, Role or Affiliation.

Connection to the project.

Potential impact (how affected).

Contribution to the project.

Barriers or anticipated challenges if any

Team Leader

Identify the team leader by initials and/or fictitious name and primary role within the organization. Be sure to complete the interactive media in Week X before completing this section. Include the following:

Why you selected this person to lead the team.

Useful qualities this leader might leverage for success (consider emotional intelligence and communication/collaboration attributes).

Discuss how an effective leader in this context might address ethical practices, diversity, equity, and inclusion in leading the team and the quality improvement effort.

Leadership style(s) or approach(es) to be utilized.

Identify two different leadership approaches that might be utilized to lead the team. Briefly describe the approaches using 1-2 citations/references (published within the last five years) for support.

Explain why you selected these two approaches.

Think about your own experience and leaders that have been most effective. Assess when different situations might necessitate different approaches in developing and implementing your Project Charter. Provide an example of how the leader might utilize each of the approaches you selected in practice.

Team Members

Identify 4-6 team members (initials or fictitious name), department or affiliation and credentials or qualifications. Think about how a diverse set of individuals (demographics, disciplines, experiences, knowledge) will add to the team!

Describe each team member’s title, department or affiliation, qualifications/credentials and the rationale for inclusion and how the person contributes to the project’s success.

Title

Department or Affiliation

Credentials or Qualifications

Rationale for selection/Contribution to the project

Communication Plan

Develop a communication plan for each person associated with the Project Charter, e.g., Executive Sponsor, Stakeholders, Team Leader, Team members.

Team Member/Stakeholder.

Purpose of communication (Inform, share, engage, solicit information?).

Frequency and timing of communication. (How often, specific stages of project?)

Method of communication (consider audience, method, culture, language, inclusion).

Who is responsible for the communication to this member? (Why is it important who delivers the message?)

Potential challenges/ barriers or assets with communication (barriers, language, culture, different disciplines, best practices (cite the literature 1-2 sources as needed).

Intervention and Measurement

Planned Intervention

Evidence supporting the intervention needs to be provided. A minimum of five evidence- based resources required (for example, research articles, clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements). Describe the planned intervention including:

Describe 2-3 interventions that can be applied in this practice change 

Interventions identified are consistent with the synthesis of the literature.  

There is logical progression from the synthesis of the literature to the practice recommendation to the proposed intervention of the project. 

Defines the intervention very specifically and operationally so that anyone replicating this project could apply the same intervention.

Scope of work detailing week by week what will be done and estimated hours (include as appendix).

Appropriate appendices are included.

Improvement Model / Framework

Identify and briefly describes theoretical framework or conceptual model for improvement. Provide rationale for why the model was chosen and how it is a good fit for the project (you will be connecting this to the project intervention later in 9901).

Proposed Outcomes

Metric (What is being measured to determine success):

Outcome Measure (What is the desired outcome in measurable terms):

Process Measure (Are you doing the right things to get to the outcome? Are the steps in the process leading to the planned outcome?):

Balancing Measure (Are the changes being made causing problems in other areas?):

Part III

Data Collection & Management

Develop a plan for the collection, management, and stewardship of the data you will collect for your Project Charter.

Describe the data to be collected

Who will collect it?

When will it be collected? Develop a timeline.

How will the data be stored?

How will the data be protected? Who will have access?

Consider aspects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Is the data stratified by gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, socioeconomic status? How might this information be utilized to address population health, equity and health disparities? Use citations as needed to support your conclusions.

Data Anaylsis

Describes project design (example: quality improvement project).

For each outcome measure define method of analysis.

Describe the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of any instruments, tools, surveys, or questionaires used; status of permission to use instruments. If the instrument is not public, permission to use the instrument is attached as an appendix.

SWOT Analysis and Business for Project

Think about how this project benefits the target population, the organization, and those served. Complete the SWOT Analysis.

Strengths

Project strengths: What are the assets of the organization that will help it achieve a successful outcome, e.g., knowledge, support, resources, funding, etc.?

Weaknesses

Potential obstalces or challenges: What are the potential barriers that might interfere with success? In the past, what factos were aligned with lack of success, and obstacles to change?

Opportunities

Opportunities to facilitate project success: What are the strengths? How might these translate into opportunities for change?

Threats

Potential threats: Identify potential threats to the success of the project, e.g., competition, factors beyond your control, etc.