Governance · tool 1 of 14
Project Charter
Project Charter: officially launches the project and fixes its why, what and who on a single page.
Best for: Kick-off, any project · Time: 1–2 hours
Domain: Governance · Focus area: Initiating
How it works
A short document, signed by the sponsor, that authorises the project and gives the project manager the authority to use resources. It is the reference you return to whenever scope, priority or budget is questioned.
- Business case: the problem or opportunity and the expected benefit.
- Objectives written SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
- High-level scope (in and out), milestones, budget, top risks and key roles.
How to apply it
- Interview the sponsor for 30 minutes: what problem, what does success look like, by when, with what budget?
- Fill the one-page template: Purpose, SMART objectives, In/Out of scope, Milestones, Budget, Risks, Team.
- Review it with the key stakeholders and resolve disagreements now — not in month three.
- Get the sponsor’s signature, store it where everyone can see it, and revisit it at each phase gate.
“Launch the new customer portal by 30 June, cutting support calls by 20%, within €120k” — instead of “improve the customer experience”.
If you can’t write the objectives in SMART form, the project isn’t ready to start. Push back before you plan.
Use it
- Template: Project Charter (blank), filled example
- Playbook: Our sponsor has left
Quick check
Who signs the project charter?
Sources
- PMBOK® Guide, 8th edition, and The Standard for Project Management (PMI, 2025)
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 against the PMBOK® Guide, 8th edition · Practitioner review pending · How this guide is made