Yes, agile projects need a project charter. Although project charters originated in traditional waterfall methods, every project should have one to provide initial project boundaries early in the project to align the team and stakeholders around goals and expectations. Agile project charters describe the project’s goal, purpose, approach and provides authorization for the project to proceed. The agile charter needs to be at a high level and also acknowledge that project scope will change.
Elements of Agile Charters
Agile project charters vary between project teams. There is no standard process a team needs to use standard for creating one. Some teams are experienced enough to not even require a project charter. However, there are some general guidelines you should follow. is a document that states why the project a project, including the business objectives and vision. Elements you should include are as follows:
- Project Background – Provide a very brief background summary about the project. The background needs to include a brief problem statement the project will solve.
- Vision Statement – The vision statement summarizes the purpose and intent of the project and describes what the world will be like when the project is completed.
- Mission Statement – The mission statement describes the overall goals and primary project objectives.
- Success Criteria – This the criteria needed for the project to be successful and deliver value.
- Stakeholders – List the individuals, groups, or organizations that are actively involved in the project, affected by its outcome, or can influence its outcome.
Depending on the project size and complexity, some teams may consider additional project charter elements:
- Assumptions and Dependencies – List the assumptions made when the project was initiated. Note any major external dependencies the project must rely upon for success, such as specific technologies, third-party vendors, development partners, or other business relationships. Also identify any other projects that are related to this project in some way or may have a bearing on its outcome.
- Project Constraints – Identify known project constraints at the time of initiation. List any constraints to work within and the dimensions that can be balanced against each other to achieve the drivers within the known constraints.
- Project Milestones – Include a list of major project milestones, key deliverables and target dates.
- Project Risks – Summarize the major business risks associated with this project, such as marketplace competition, timing issues, user acceptance, implementation issues, or possible negative impacts on the business.
Conclusion
Creating a project charter will help to ensure the team and stakeholders are aligned successful outcomes. Remember to keep documentation to be barely sufficient.
Agile Project Charter Template Download
Feel free to download a free copy of our project charter template to help guide you through creating one for your next project.