Assignment: Developing a Project Charter

Objective: The objective of this assignment is to create and present a formal document for the project professor, who plays the role of the Project Sponsor. This document will serve to gain authorization for a chosen project, demonstrating its importance and value.

Project Selection: Each group has the freedom to select both the project and the hosting organization. However, it is strongly recommended that the chosen project meets the following criteria:

1. The project should not have been previously undertaken or planned by any organization.
2. The organization can be an existing entity or a new one specifically created for this assignment.
3. The project topic should be business-appropriate and align with the values of the University of Ottawa.
4. The project should have relevance to businesses operating in Canada or providing benefits to Canadians.
5. The project's duration should not exceed one full year, encompassing all planning activities.
6. The budget for the project should not exceed one million dollars, inclusive of all projected costs.
7. The project should employ no more than 100 people, distributed across three identified countries.
8. If necessary, the project may involve up to three identified subcontractors with a valid license to operate.

Requirements: The deliverable for this assignment, the project charter report, should adhere to the following guidelines:

Content:

• At a minimum, the report should cover the topics included in the provided template.
• Students have the flexibility to add any relevant information they consider necessary.
• The report should include an Executive Summary, a list of references (in the References section), and all supporting details (in the Appendices section).
• Key statements supporting the proposed project and its parameters should be substantiated with appropriate data and valid business justifications.

Format:

• The report should be professionally formatted with clear structure, sections, and smooth transitions.
• Consistency in using a recognized style guide for citations, such as APA or MLA, is expected.
• It should be written from the perspective of an organization seeking approval from the sponsor.
• The main body of the report, situated between the Executive Summary and References sections, should be between 5 and 10 pages long. It should have 1-inch margins all around and double-spaced paragraphs, using a 12pt Arial font.

Grading: The assignment will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in Appendix A. The key grading considerations include:

Clarity and Quality of Structure and Writing:

• The report should have a professional layout and format.
• Writing must be clear, professional, and free from spelling, punctuation, grammar, and structural errors.

Appropriate and Complete Application of Relevant Readings:

• All sections should contain clear, thorough, and complete content.
• Relevant course concepts should be utilized to support the statements, and proper references to information sources are expected.

Project Progress Update

We have made significant progress in our project, tentatively named "CampBuzz," which is expected to evolve through three versions:

Version 1: In the initial phase, CampBuzz will function as a dedicated blogging platform designed exclusively for university students. It will serve as a one-sided development project, with us as the sole contributors. Students can utilize this platform for various purposes, such as sharing information on navigating university life, discussing studies, and showcasing course-related content.

Version 2: In the second phase, CampBuzz will expand its features to include video blogs (vlogs). We will continue to upload the vlogs, but users will have the opportunity to register, comment, like, and upvote each vlog. This version marks the transition towards greater user engagement and interactivity.

Version 3: The final phase of CampBuzz's development will empower students to upload their own videos to the platform. This transformation will turn CampBuzz into a multifaceted platform, resembling a social networking site, while also offering elements of a marketplace. Users will be able to interact, share content, and potentially engage in various online activities, creating a dynamic and vibrant online community.

These versions represent our evolving vision for CampBuzz, with each phase introducing new functionalities and a progressively enhanced user experience. We look forward to further development and the realization of our project's full potential for which we need a project charter!