---
title: "Project charter"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:project-charter"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/project-charter
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Project charter

ICT Project Management · Chapter 7: Project Integration Management

- Asked in: year not given; year not given
- Video: [You Won't Believe How a Project Charter Can Save Your Project!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKX6w8Ip9dA) — PM Aspirant
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/project-charter
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-7

## Question

What do you mean by project charter? Define project charter and explain it in detail.

## Short answer

A project charter formally authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority to apply organizational resources. It documents high-level requirements, objectives, summary schedule, budget, assumptions, constraints, and success criteria, linking the project to strategic goals.

## Answer

A **project charter** is a document that formally authorises a project and gives the project manager the authority to apply organisational resources to project activities. It is issued by the sponsor or senior management (PMBOK: output of the "Develop project charter" process). It documents the business needs, assumptions, constraints and understanding of the customer's needs and the high-level product.

#### Purpose
- Formally recognises the existence of the project.
- Gives the project manager authority.
- Links the project with the organisation's strategic goals.
- Provides a basis for the detailed plan; it is short (1-2 pages is typical).
- Prevents misunderstanding between sponsor and manager.

#### Typical contents
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Project title and date | Name and authorisation date |
| Project manager | Name and level of authority |
| Business case / justification | Why the project is done, expected benefits |
| Objectives | Measurable goals |
| Scope summary | High-level description and deliverables |
| Success criteria | Measures of success |
| Summary milestone schedule | Key dates |
| Summary budget | High-level cost |
| Assumptions and constraints | |
| Risks | High-level risks |
| Stakeholders | Key stakeholders and requirements |
| Approval | Sponsor signature |

#### Developing a charter
Inputs: project statement of work, business case, agreement/contract, enterprise environmental factors, organisational process assets. Tools: expert judgment, facilitation. Output: project charter.

```text
SOW + Business case + Agreement + EEF + OPA
              |
   Develop Project Charter
              |
        Project Charter
```

#### Example
For a "Campus Wi-Fi project", the charter names the manager, sets a budget of Rs 15 lakh, goal of 95% coverage within 4 months and gives authority to procure access points.

The charter differs from the project plan: the charter authorises, the plan explains how the work will be done.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What does a project charter do?
   A. Formally authorises the project and gives the PM authority
   B. Details the full schedule
   C. Lists test cases
   D. Replaces the plan
   Answer: A. It is issued by the sponsor or senior management. (Key point: Charter purpose)

2. How does the charter differ from the project plan?
   A. Charter details work; plan authorises
   B. They are identical
   C. Plan is issued by sponsor
   D. Charter authorises; plan explains how work will be done
   Answer: D. The charter is short and high-level. (Key point: Charter vs plan)

3. Which is an input to Develop Project Charter?
   A. WBS
   B. Lessons learned
   C. Statement of work and business case
   D. Change requests
   Answer: C. Inputs also include agreement, EEF and OPA. (Key point: Charter inputs)

## Related in ICT Project Management

- [Information in a project charter](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Acharter-information) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7
- [Expert judgment in project charter](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aexpert-judgment-charter) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7
- [Project life cycles in detail](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-life-cycles) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4
- [Charter tools, inputs and outputs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Acharter-tools-inputs-outputs) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7
- [Project planning matrix (PPM)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-planning-matrix) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7
- [Project development life cycle phases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-development-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 1

## Related in other subjects

- [Detail estimate report for sewerage project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aestimate-report-sewerage) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 5, asked 2×
- [Components of detail estimate report (road)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Adetail-estimate-report-road) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 5
- [Project operates in a dynamic environment](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Adynamic-environment-explain) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Contents of a good project proposal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-contents-components) — Project Engineering, chapter 2, asked 3×