Q 622. BOSCARD is an alternative to Project Charter. Compare the two and highlight their advantages and disadvantages with an example.

 

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While a project charter is traditinally accepted form of accepting a project with stakeholder roles and the problem/goal statement, BOSCARD is more practical way of looking at things from agility angle.

In a similar way to Project Charter, BOSCARD also defines background and objectives including the scope. However , BOSCARD also evaluates the constraints, Risks, Assumptions and Deliverables which is more like a RAID log in agile world and more realistic and practical.

The biggest problem with project charter is the practical application becomes difficult because of not covering the assumptions, risk and Issues in a specific manner but is embedded in various headers.

In my opinion BOSCARD covers end to end details to a project with all the parties involved and spends more time in attention to details.this is a next gen way of working style.

 

 

 

 

BOSCARD is a tool to define a project.

It is a similar topic like project chatter.

It includes project definition/Assumptions/constraints/objectives/scope/goal.

It is first derived by cap Gemini.

B-Back ground

O-Objective

S-Scope

C-Constraints

A-Assumptions

R-Risks

D-Deliverables

It is a very useful tool to get the details for the new project.

 

 

Project Charter	BOSCORD
Definition:- A project charter is a formal document mostly from Top Management that authorizes the project managers to execute a particular project. It officially states that they can work with their team to utilize company resources, such as people, technology and finances, to complete the project, from start to finish.	BOSCARD offers a structured approach to define and plan a project. It helps as a tool used to give terms of reference when defining a project management frame work.   It is not entirely clear where this tool originated. Some believe the model originated from cap Gemini the 1980s.
Elements of Projector Charter A.     Business Case: Explains why this project is needs to be done now. B.     Opportunity Statement or Problem Statement: Explains the opportunity or the problem currently faced, where do we stand. C.      Goal Statement:  Defines deliverable of the project D.     Project Scope: Defines the project scope. E.      Define Budget: Decides if this project is really needed or it will be like speeding 1000$ for 30$ gain.  F.      Project Plan: Timeline for all the phases of the project to be completed G.     Team Selection: Team members are defined and responsibilities assigned.	BOSCARD stands for: a.      Background :- Tell about the history of the problem b.      Objectives :- Goal of this project (SMART) c.      Scope :- Borders of the project d.      Constraints :- Limitation or restrictions (Budget / Timeline) e.      Assumptions :- Consideration of Key resources (Supplier), Technical Feasibility. f.       Risks :- Technical, Resource, Planning, Critical part. g.      Deliverables :- SOP / Reports / Tangible / Non Tangible.
It provides clarity to everyone especially Top Management about what is expected as output to be accomplished.  It establishes expectations to stakeholders and ensures everyone will be working towards the same goal.	Used in defining essential terms for reference (Who, why, what, where, when, How)

BOSCARD is an acronym for Background, Objectives, Scope, Constraints, Assumptions, Risks, and Deliverables. It is more particular ans organised way of presenting a project planning. It is mainly used to gain quick agreements from stakeholders. 

 

Whereas Project Charter is more of standard formal document used to gain approval from relevant stakeholders before the project is initiated. Project charter precisely includes information about cost & efforts involved to complete the project plus it must include the measurable benefits. It also includes key stakeholders to make decisions and to get their approvals. 

 

BOSCARD is mainly used for quick and simple projects where as Project Charter is suitable only for complex projects. 

While the published answers have explained and compared both project charter and BOSCARD, the comparison would have come out better with an example which sadly no one has added. Hence there is no winner for this question.

 

Dhruva's answer highlights the advantages of one over the other while Adil's answer compares the two in a tabular format. Do read them.