Q1W1 451

Q1. 200-250 words

Discuss two reasons why project charters are an important part of project management. Identify three traits of an effective project charter and explain why each is important. Then, discuss two reasons why scope statements are an important part of project management. Identify three traits of effective scope statements and explain why each is important. How do project charters and scope statements differ?

Reply to responses. 75-100 words

A. Justin

Project Charters are important to a project because it presents in a document to the project stakeholders and the PM (Project Manager) what the defined goals of the project are, it also shares the basic purpose of work and how that is defined. The project charter also is important post-contract for the customer so that they can stay in the loop while the project is being worked on. A good project charter should also give the customer a transparent look into what the timeline is and what the expectations and risks of the project are.

In order for the PM and the client to be on the same page during the project and also to avoid scope creep where the project can get disjointed and not fall in line with the timelines and milestones, the scope statement is vital to the success of the project. The scope statement clearly defines the boundaries of the project, this lets the customer know what is included and not included in the project. When things change in a project the customer needs to know the PM is the main POC (Point of Contact) who can then reach out to the correct internal contact within the org. The customer needs to know who these are and this should be outlined in the scope statement for change requests.

Project Charters and Scope Statements are two different documents that work with each other in the Project life cycle. Project Charters usually come before the scope statement as the project charter is a high-level overview of the project scope whereas the scope statement is a more detailed deep dive of the project itself.

B Luigi

Hi Class,

A project charter is essential in the management of a project since it provides authorization to the manager on undertaking the process of allocating resources to achieve objectives set. It is also critical to project management as it highlights and clearly states the requirements of the sponsor by providing all of the required information.

An effective project charter is clear and has enough information that is essential in pushing it forward. This is important as it allows for all who are involved in a project can understand it and the objectives being pursued (Abyad, 2018). Another trait is goals that are measurable to help determine success. It is important that this quality is present to help assess the performance of the team and identify when success is achieved (Abyad, 2018). A summary budget is also essential to guide the planning, spending, and identify when it goes overboard.

Having a scope statement in project management helps provide a clear description of the project and manage information between stakeholders. It is also important in identifies boundaries and constraints that might be faced. Having the overall description in a good scope statement is essential as it provides a simple understanding of the project to stakeholders. Deliverables in a scope statement are important in labeling what is expected of a project (Abyad, 2018). Constraints are also critical to identify certain challenges that might be faced. A project charter differs from the scope statement as the former provides a simplified overview while the latter goes into detail and is clearer.

References

Abyad, A. (2018). Project management, motivation theories and process management. Middle East Journal of Business, 13(4), 18-22.

C Samita

The project charter is a short, straightforward document that serves as the foundation for a project. The two reasons why project Charter is an important part of project management are it ensures that the project manager understands the sponsor’s needs and requirements and it provides vital information needed to get the projects started. The three traits of an effective project charter are:

· Project purpose or justification

Stating the business need that the project addresses can give everyone direction and clarity regarding project decisions and build a foundation of strong leadership from the performing organization. When everyone knows why the project is being performed, they can be laser-focused on the result.

· Summary milestones schedule

Most projects have milestones that are defined by executives before the project becomes a project, whether explicitly stated or implied. For example, a mine access road needs to be completed before construction equipment can move in. These milestones define the project and should therefore be placed into the project charter, however, they do not take the place of a detailed project schedule during the project planning stage.

· Summary budget

All projects are created in the context of organizational budget constraints. This context should be communicated within the project charter to pass on the budgetary constraints into the project planning phase.

A scope statement is a useful tool for outlining project results and identifying the constraints, assumptions, and key factors for success. The two reasons why scope statements are an important part of project management are it defines the boundaries of the project, and ensure a common understanding of the project among stakeholders. The three traits of scope statements are

·      Gathering templets and information

Organizations sometimes have templates, guidelines, or previous projects' scope statements on file and, if they exist, these should be consulted. Some information gathering was necessary to write the preliminary scope statement. Before moving on to the formal scope statement, information and documentation become the priorities.