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The project charter and scope statement can seem like one and the same sometimes. They are both usually contained early in the project management plan, and they both itemize the scope of the project to some extent. So what’s the difference? Well, they have a slight difference in purpose.
The following checklist can be used for a project charter:
Project Scope StatementThe project scope statement can contain the following information:
This checklist has been adapted from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) section 5.3, “Define Scope” Do you have any comments? Let us know in the form below. Bernie Roseke, P.Eng., PMP, is the president of Roseke Engineering. As a bridge engineer and project manager, he manages projects ranging from small, local bridges to multi-million dollar projects. He is also the technical brains behind ProjectEngineer, the online project management system for engineers. He is a licensed professional engineer, certified project manager, and six sigma black belt. He lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and two kids. One of the most critical and essential documents for every project is the Project Charter. It is the first document for a project and lays down the foundation for the project. A
project charter is a document which explains about the project at a very high level and highlights the stakeholders and the approach towards the project. It introduces the Project Manager to the project. The project sponsor owns a project charter. Project Sponsor authorizes the Project Charter, but the Project Manager can create it. Project Stakeholders should approve every Project Charter. Once the Project Charter is approved, it cannot be changed throughout the project life cycle. Read
more: What Is a Project: Life cycle, Characteristics and Examples There is no standard rule what information a project charter should contain. In fact, the format of a project charter also can vary from organizations to organizations. We have listed information which a project charter
can have. Majority of the project fails because the scope of a specific project is not defined clearly. For any project to be
successful, the project scope has to be clear to all stakeholders without any assumption. What Is Project Scope?Project Scope, as the name suggests, is the boundary of the project. Every project team is required only to deliver as defined and agreed in the Project Scope. The information on project scope is documented in a project scope document. It is the foundation on which the schedule, budget is built. As per the PMBOK – Project Scope is all the work required and only the work required to complete the project. It is crucial for every project manager to document the scope of the project and get approval from all stakeholders. Project scope can change over a time based on the client's requirement change, business scenario change, or any other applicable reason. However, any change in project scope should be supported by a Change request. The requester of the change should raise a change request, and it has to receive approval from the change control board. Any change to the scope of the project will have an impact on Time, Cost, Quality, Risk, Staffing (Human Resource), Communication. Impact of Project ScopeImpact of change in project scope to Time, Cost, Quality, Risk, Staffing (Human Resource), Communication is difficult to ascertain and takes a lot of time for any project manager to identify the impact. If the scope change impact is not determined correctly, this will impact the project success adversely. Are you looking forward to making a mark in the Project Management field? If yes, enroll in the Project Management for Beginners Program now and get a step closer to your career goal! Define Project ScopeDefining Project Scope is the first step wherein the scope of the project is defined. Scope can be defined in three main ways – Deliverable, Functionality & Data, and Technical Structure.
It can be created in a pictorial format or diagram. ConclusionDefining scope is a significant problem in many projects. An error in project scope can lead to the project disaster. Unless and until the scope is identified correctly, the project cannot be under control and scope will keep increasing. Read more: Project Management Methodologies A project charter provides a solid foundation for a project (small or large). All the stakeholders of the project are informed about their roles and the level of efforts required from their end. Project Charter is used during the initial phase and planning phase; hence, a good project charter can help in the success of the project. A project manager needs to have a project charter before he/she take over a new project. If a project charter is unavailable, it is better to create a project charter and get it approved from the stakeholders before one starts the project.
What's the difference between the project charter and scope statement?Essentially, the charter contains an overview of the project scope and the project scope statement breaks it down into more detail. The scope should be clear and concise. There should be no ambiguity around what the outcome of the project will be.
What is a scope statement in a project charter?A project scope statement is a useful tool to outline the project's deliverables and identify the constraints, assumptions and key success factors. Initially, a preliminary scope document is prepared (along with the charter and other initiation documents) to map out the goals.
Which is not included in project charter?It should include a high-level milestone view of the project schedule. It is a high-level document that does not include the project details. The specifics of project activities will be developed later. It includes the summary level preliminary project budget.
Which of the following is included in the project charter?The project charter is a crucial document in project management as it lays out the project's purpose, objectives, stakeholders, risks, resources, and dependencies during the project planning stage.
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