Project charter: what it is and what it means

The project charter is the document that sets out in writing a project's objective, constraints, scope and owners before kickoff. It separates the decision to start from the detailed planning that follows. In a small company the working version is one page with six items: measurable objective, what is in scope and out of scope, time and budget constraints, project lead and team, main risks, closure criteria.

Distinctive: sets out in writing a project's objective, constraints, scope and owners
Distinctive: before kickoff
Essential: measurable objective
Essential: in scope and out of scope
Essential: closure criteria
Constant: document
Constant: time and budget constraints

Glossary

Project charter

A one-page document that sets out in writing a project's objective, constraints, scope and owners before kickoff.