Project Charter

-Definition

-Organization and plan

-Risks and issues

-Assumptions and constraints.

Project Definition: This section describes what the project sets out to achieve. It outlines the vision for the project, the key objectives to be met, the scope of work to be undertaken and the deliverables to be produced.

Vision: Describe the overall vision of the project. The vision statement should be short, concise and achievable. Examples of vision statements include:

-To deliver a robust, scalable financial management system to the business.

-To procure new work premises with adequate capacity and functional surrounds.

-To successfully introduce new customer service processes to the marketplace.

Objectives: List the key objectives of the project. Objectives are statements which describe in more detail what it is that the project is going to achieve. All objectives listed should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART).

Business Objectives

List the business-specific objectives to be achieved. For example:

-To deliver new accounts payable and receivable and payroll processes, thereby reducing financial processing timescales by at least 30%

-To build brand new work premises with 50% more space, 30 more cark parks and 20% fewer operational costs than the existing premises

-To provide a new customer complaints service to enable customers to issue complaints on-line and receive a direct response from the company within 24hrs.

Technology Objectives

List the technology-specific objectives to be achieved. For example:

-To install new accounts payable and receivable and payroll system modules within the existing accounting system, thereby achieving 99.5% system up-time

-To relocate existing technology infrastructure at the new building premises within 2 days elapsed time and with no impact on customer service delivery

-To build a new website which allows customers to enter and track complaints through to resolution.

Scope: Define the scope of the project in terms of the business:

-Processes which will change

-Organizational areas which will be affected

-Locations which will be impacted on

-Data which will be altered

-Applications which will be installed and/or altered

-Technologies which will be deployed and/or decommissioned©

Where relevant, identify the related business areas which will not be affected as a result of this project.

Deliverables: Highlight the key project deliverables in table. Use the provided as a guide.

Customers: Describe the customers who will use the deliverables produced from the project. Customers may be individuals or groups within or outside of the company. The success of the project will be primarily based on whether or not the deliverables produced match the requirements of the customers identified in this table.

Stakeholders: List the key stakeholders for this project. A ‘stakeholder’ is simply a person or entity outside of the project who has a key interest in the project. For instance, a company financial controller will have an interest in the cost implications of the project, a CEO will have an interest in whether the project is conducted in accordance with the vision of the company. Examples of stakeholders include:

-Company Executives

-Legislative bodies

-Regulatory bodies.

Use the provided examples as a guide.

Identify the roles required to undertake the project. Examples of typical roles include project:

-Sponsor

-Review Group

-Manager

-Team Member

For each role identified, list the resource likely to fill each role and his/her assignment details by completing the following table.

Project Sponsor

The Project Sponsor is the principal ‘owner’ of the project. Key responsibilities include:

· Defining the vision and high-level objectives for the project

· Approving the requirements, timetable, resources and budget

· Authorizing the provision of funds / resources (internal or external)

· Approving the project plan and quality plan

· Ensuring that major business risks are identified and managed

· Approving any major changes in scope

· Receiving Project Review Group minutes and taking action accordingly

· Resolving issues escalated by the Project Manager / Project Review Group

· Ensuring business / operational support arrangements are put in place

· Ensuring the participation of a business resource (if required)

· Providing final acceptance of the solution upon project completion.

Project Review Group

The Project Review Group may include both business and 3rd party representatives and is put in place to ensure that the project is progressing according to plan.

Key responsibilities include:

· Assisting the Project Sponsor with the definition of the project vision and objectives

· Undertaking Quality Reviews prior to the completion of each project milestone

· Ensuring that all business risks are identified and managed accordingly

· Ensuring conformance to the standards and processes identified in the Quality Plan

· Ensuring that all appropriate client/vendor contractual documentation is in place prior to the initiation of the project.

Project Manager

The Project Manager ensures that the daily activities undertaken on the project are in accordance with the approved project plans. The Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the project produces the required deliverables on time, within budgeted cost and at the level of quality outlined within the Quality Plan.

Key responsibilities include:

· Documenting the detailed Project Plan and Quality Plan

· Ensuring that all required resources are assigned to the project and clearly tasked

· Managing assigned resources according to the defined scope of the project

· Implementing the following project processes: time / cost / quality / change / risk / issue / procurement / communication / acceptance management

· Monitoring and reporting on project performance (re: schedule, cost, quality and risk)

· Ensuring compliance with the processes and standards outlined in the Quality Plan

· Reporting and escalating project risks and issues

· Managing project interdependencies

· Making adjustments to the detailed plan as necessary to provide a complete picture of the progress of the project at any time.

Project Team Member

A Project Team member undertakes all tasks necessary to design, build and implement the final solution.

Key responsibilities include:

Undertaking all tasks allocated by the Project Manager (as per the Project Plan)

Reporting progress of the execution of tasks to the Project Manager on a frequent basis

Maintaining all documentation relating to the execution of allocated tasks

Escalating risks and issues to be resolved by the Project Manager. ©

Structure: Depict the reporting lines (a.k.a. organizational chart) for each of the key roles.

Approach: Describe the approach to be taken to implement each of the phases within the project. Use the provided examples as a guide.

Overall Plan: Provide a summarized plan outlining the sequence of each of the phases listed above. A more detailed Project Plan will be drawn up during the “Planning” phase of the project.

Milestones Milestones: A sub-section of the Project Plan. List the major project milestones and the required delivery dates. A ‘milestone’ is a significant event or stage to be completed. Explain why each milestone is critical to the project.

Dependencies

Dependencies: List any project activities which:

-Will impact on another activity external to the project

-Will be impacted on by the non/delivery of another activity external to the project

For example (if our project was to build a house):

1. Painting the walls is dependent on completing the drywall.

2. Completing the drywall is dependent upon completing the framing.

3. Completing the framing is dependent upon completing the foundation.

Resource Plan: Summarize the duration and effort required for each project team member. A detailed Resource Plan will be drawn up during the “Planning” phase of this project.

Financial Plan: Summarize the project budget approved. Use estimates for this portion and also use the provided examples as a guide for items to include in the budget. A detailed Financial Plan will be drawn up during the “Planning” phase of this project.

Quality Plan: Briefly describe the various processes to be undertaken to ensure the success of the project. A detailed Quality Plan will be drawn up during the “Planning” phase of this project.

Project Considerations: These are elements that must be considered during the project lifecycle

Risks: Summarize the most apparent risks associated with the project. Risks are defined as “any event which may adversely affect the ability of the solution to produce the required deliverables”. Risks may be Strategic, Environmental, Financial, Operational, Technical, Industrial, Competitive or Customer related. To complete this section thoroughly, it may be necessary to undertake a formal Risk Assessment (by documenting a Risk Management Plan). To reduce the likelihood and impact of each risk's eventuating, clear ‘mitigating actions’ should be defined. Use the provided examples as a guide.

Issues: Summarize the highest priority issues associated with the project. Issues are defined as “any event which currently adversely affects the ability of the solution to produce the required deliverables”. Use the provided examples as a guide.

Assumptions: List the major assumptions identified with the project to date. Examples include:

-There will be no legislative, business strategy or policy changes during this project

-Prices of raw materials will not increase during the course of the project

-Additional human resources will be available from the business to support the project.

-The financial budget allocated is fixed and does not allow for over-spending

-There are limited technical resource available for the project

-The technical solution must be implemented after-hours to minimize the operational impact on the business.

Appendix: This section may or not be required.

Attach any documentation you believe is relevant to the Project Charter, including:

-Curricula Vitae (CVs) for key project staff

-Approved Business Case

-Approved Feasibility Study

-Research Materials

-External quotes or tenders

-Detailed financial planning spreadsheets

-Other relevant information or correspondence.