Project Charter is perhaps the most important document for any project. Since it is non-statistical in nature, it is frequently mistaken to be comparatively minor. But this is perhaps the worst mistake that can happen in any project management process.
5 classic errors in a project charter are:
#1: Poorly drafted problem statement: The Business Case, as some may call it, must have a time period for which the data has been collected, the problematic metric, the target and the actual performance basis of the data, and the mention of the financial loss due to the existing gap. Missing out on any one of the 4 details would mean the draft is improper.
#2: Putting in too many numbers: Keeping the project charter detailed, yet simple, shows the work of a good project management. Entering too many statistics, not only makes it look unnecessarily complicated, but also makes it difficult to comprehend.
#3: Not presenting the Risk Matrix or the SIPOC for overall perspective: Putting in an understanding of the possible risks, and the details of the SIPOC (Supplier Input Process Output Customer) is vital when preparing the charter.
#4: Not documenting the Goal/Outcome: Steering clear of defining a goal is not exactly what the project management team should do. If there is no clear data available, brainstorming is the best way to start.
#5: Not enough details in the roles and responsibilities section: This section might not require a detailed description, but neglecting it altogether is unacceptable. The senior management, through this section, expects to see an overview of the resource utilization. For the initial draft, mentioning the key players, should just be sufficient.
Project Charter is vital in explaining the essential details of a new project. Avoiding the classic mistakes, can save the project a lot of time and rework.
See full story on processexcellencenetwork.com