Project Charter

A project charter describes the approved project objectives and project management. It authorizes the project manager to use resources to complete and deliver a specific deliverable, result, or product.

Scenario

For this assessment, choose either Option A or Option B. You do not need to do both. Your instructor will grade both options using the same scoring guide.

Option A: Based on the analysis completed by a task force at Cosmo, Inc., the marketing department must develop, implement, and test a new marketing campaign focused on maintaining current customer levels and increasing their customer base through the utilization of new technology. Refer to the Cosmo, Inc. Business Case document in the Resources for more information.

Option B: Choose a business of your own. The business must include (but is not limited to) the following criteria:

• Clear business objective and a specific completion outcome.
• Project team has at least three members (not including you, the project manager), each with defined roles and responsibilities.
• Completion window of 180 days.
• Cost estimates that serve as the basis for a budget are used as part of the plan development process.

Requirements

Using the template linked in the Resources, develop the Project Charter section of the project management plan, including the following:

• Business Need.
  • Briefly describe the business need for Cosmo, Inc. or your selected business. Indicate how this will align with organizational strategic goals and objectives. Include quantitative information that supports the severity of the problem (performance metrics, costs metrics, customer satisfaction metrics, and so on).
• Project Objectives.
  • Provide a brief statement regarding the implementation of the project, and then use bullet points regarding the major deliverables.
• Project Approach.
  • Describe the business requirements for the project. How will the project be managed? For example, "This project will be managed in accordance to the PMI approach as modified." Provide specific tools or techniques that will be utilized per project phase.
• Project Assumptions.
  • Explain project assumptions. For example, it is assumed that the budget will be available to support the project and will require no update.
• Project Constraints.
  • Explain project constraints. For example, the resources for the project may not be available as needed, and alternative solutions may be required. Provide mitigating strategies for each constraint.
• Project Dependencies.
  • Explain project dependencies. For example, this project is dependent on the construction feasibility project (name) to be completed before this project can proceed. Provide mitigating strategies for each dependency.
• Initial Risk Factors.
  • Analyze initial risk factors to the project. Include the impacts and mitigating strategies. For example, city permit application and approval occurs once a month. This could delay the ground-breaking tasks. Mitigation: Request a special meeting with the city planning department to gain approvals.
• Regulatory Costs and Impacts.
  • Analyze the impact of regulations and costs to the project. For example, SOX, HIPAA, GLB, SEC rules, local and state licensing, permits, et cetera.
• Roles and Responsibilities.
  • Explain who the project stakeholders are, their roles, and their responsibilities.

Project Charter Template

[GUIDANCE: The project charter describes the approved project objectives and management. It authorizes the project manager to use resources to complete and deliver a specific deliverable, result or product.] Project Title: Project Start Date: Projected Finish Date: Budget Information: Project Manager: Business Need [GUIDANCE: Briefly describe the business need/requirement for this project here. Indicate how this will align with organizational strategic goals and objectives. Please include quantitative information that supports the severity of the problem. i.e. performance metrics; costs metrics; customer satisfaction metrics, etc.] Project Objectives [GUIDANCE: Provide a brief statement regarding the implementation of the project --- e.g. implement. then follow with bullet points regarding the major deliverables.]

Approach [GUIDANCE: Provide a brief description regarding how the project will be managed for example: This project will be managed in accordance to the PMI approach as modified. Provide specific tools or techniques that will be utilized per project phase.]

Assumptions/Constraints/Dependencies Assumptions: [State your assumptions i.e. It is assumed that the budget will be available to support the project and requires no updates (this is an example only modify to suit your project situation).] Constraints: [A constraint might be The resources for this project may not be available as needed and alternative solutions may be required. Provide mitigating strategies for each constraint]

Dependencies: [A dependency might be This project is dependent on the construction feasibility project (name) to be completed before this project can proceed. Provide mitigating strategies for each dependency] Initial Risk Factors [Describe the initial risk factors identified, the impacts and mitigating strategies. An example: City permit application and approval occurs once a month. This could delay the ground-breaking tasks. Mitigation: Request a special meeting with the City Planning Department to gain approvals.]

Regulatory cost/impact [Indicate what regulatory impacts must be considered (i.e. SOX, HIPAA, GLB, SEC rules, local and state licensing, permits, etc.) and the cost / impact to the project.] Roles and Responsibilities [Identify all stakeholders and indicate their roles and responsibilities here.]

Role Name Organization and Position Responsibilities / Tasks on the Project Contact Information Project sponsor Project manager