PROJECT CHARTER

Description

A project charter is a plan of action and agreement between the Champion, Supplier and Lean expert on the project. The topics agreed and recorded in a project charter include the problem, scope, project organisation and schedule.

When

In the Imaging and Discharge phases.

Goals

A project charter is designed to record the agreements about the project. This forms the basis for the project.

Steps

Alignment and identification of topics:

Process: in which process will the expected savings be realised?
Project description: what is the problem?
Objective(s): what improvements are expected, what is the current performance and what is the desired performance?
Business case: expected (financial) improvement or savings.
Team members: project team.
Project Scope: which part of the process is being investigated or improved? What does the customer expect from the process?
Global project phasing: planning.
Preconditions.
Risks: what risks can be identified and what are countermeasures?
Signature: by client and process owner.

Tips:

Complete the project charter together with the project team members.
Always discuss the charter with the client and the process owner. They sign for agreement.
Set yourself the goal of having discussed and established the project charter by the end of the Image Shaping phase. Then the basic agreements will be clear and you can move forward with the project.
Create clarity and avoid vagueness (in definitions, terms and scope).

Examples