Ch. 3 Flashcards
What is a project charter?
A document that formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities.
Describe what an effective charter should accomplish.
→ The four major purposes for a charter are to:
1. Authorize the project manager to proceed
2. Help the project manager, sponsor, and team members, if any are already assigned, develop a common understanding
3. Help the project manager, sponsor, and team members commit to the spirit of the project
4. Quickly screen out obviously poor projects
How is a charter like a contract? How is it different from a contract?
A charter is similar to a contract in that it is entered freely by two or more parties, it cannot arbitrarily be changed, it offers something of value for each party, and it’s a living document that can evolve with changing conditions.
A charter is different from a contract in that it is not bound by law. The parties are obligated to the spirit of the charter. Also, unlike a contract, a project sponsor can change the charter as long as they are willing to work with the team on the changes.
How long should a typical charter be?
1 to 4 pages
Should be short enough that the project team and sponsor can examine it to ensure they understand and agree.
Signing the charter marks the transition between which two project stages?
Initiating and Planning
Who generally writes the rough draft of a charter?
The project manager
Give three reasons for using a charter.
- Authorize the project management to proceed
- Help the project manager, sponsor and team members develop a common understanding
- Quickly screen out obviously poor projects
What are some typical elements of a charter?
Title
Scope overview
Business case
Background
Milestone schedule
Risks/assumptions/constraints
Spending approvals/budget estimates
Communication plan requirements
Team operating principles
Lessons learned
Signatures and commitment
What is scope creep and how can it be prevented?
Scope creep is incremental increases of work for a project without corresponding adjustments to resources, budgets, or schedule. The scope overview is used to prevent scope creep as it distinguishes what the project will and will not do.
When would a background section be helpful?
When more information and detail is needed to support the scope statement and business case statements.
On most small to medium-sized projects, how many intermediate milestones should be identified in the charter?
3-8
What types of resources might be included in a resources-needed section of a charter?
People (project manager, core team members, and internal consultants)
Equipment
Money
Space (conference room)
Name three reasons project managers and teams should look at risk.
- Any negative risk that is a threat that may inhibit successful project completion (to the satisfaction of stakeholders, on time, budget) needs to be identified, and if it is a major risk, a plan must be developed to overcome it.
-to identify neg risks/threats and develop plan - A positive risk is an opportunity to complete the project better, faster and/or at lower cost or to capitalize upon it.
-capitalize on pos risks - Reviewing risks can show there is more risk to the organization if the project is not undertaken and this provides additional rationale for doing the project.
-additional rational for doing project (bc of risks for not taking it)
Why should each contingency plan have an owner who is responsible for it?
To make a response plan and lessen the risk event from happening in the first place and/or to reduce the impact if the risk event should materialize
What are the four columns of the milestone schedule?
Milestone
Date
Who judges
Acceptance
