Project Charter Template printable pdf download

Project Charter Template

Introduction

This document provides outlines, for a scalable charter tool and associated charter development

methods that can be used by Implementing Agencies (IA) to initiate and authorize a capital project.

These tools were prepared by the CPMWG Scalable Project Management Tools Subcommittee as one

of the deliverables. The tools may be adjusted to meet IA needs provided the IA keeps the elements of

the tools.

PMBOK 2013 provides this definition for a Project Charter: “The project charter is issued by the

project initiator, or sponsor that formally authorizes the existence of a project, and provides the project

manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities.”

The Charter Template is the tool for authorizing all Checklists A, B, and C projects. This tool is

scalable for all Checklist A, B, and C project categories as defined in the CPMWG2 Scalable Tools

Work Product. The level of detail in the charter should be scaled as appropriate for the size and

complexity of the project, but each topic in the Charter Template should be considered for all Checklist

projects.

For small projects, under the Checklist threshold (less than $100k), individual IA’s should develop a

small project initiation process. The Charter Template tool can also be used as a resource for IA’s to

develop their small project initiation process. Some IA’s have also chosen to use a project initiation

form to initiate the preparation of the project charter for larger projects.

The project charter tool requires inputs from a variety of project planning and management processes to

produce the charter. Examples of these processes include scoping, cost estimating, scheduling and risk

evaluation. The recommendations in this document assume that project managers have experience in

these processes. The project management processes with particular application in meeting King

County’s project chartering requirements are described within the template tool.

Purpose

To provide IA management, project managers, and other staff who manage King County capital

improvement projects (CIP) with a scalable tool for preparing and approving Project Charters.

Objectives

These are the objectives of the charter tool:

1. Describe the use of the Project Charter tool.

2. Present an overview of selected charter development processes that have specific application to

King County charter requirements.

3. Familiarize IA staff with terminology associated with project charters.

4. Provide a list of resources to aid in preparing a project charter.

1 – Project Charter Template

The Project Charter Template includes key items to include in a charter document, ranging from project

identification, scoping, cost and schedule projections, to approvals. The template presents a list of the

recommended elements to be included. The project manager should address each individual topic in the

Project Charter Template