What is a Project Charter? What does it include? - Google Project Mgmt
Google Project Management Interview Question and Answers - What is a Project Charter? What does it include?
A project charter is a concise, sponsor-authorized document that formally authorizes the project, names the project manager, and defines the high-level objectives, scope boundaries, key stakeholders, and governance required to move from concept to planning. It gives the project the authority to consume resources and establishes the initial expectations and constraints.
Why it matters?
It is the sponsor’s formal approval to proceed, without a signed charter, teams are often working without clear authority.
It aligns the business problem, expected benefits, and success criteria at a high level.
It identifies what’s in scope and what is explicitly out of scope early on.
It establishes steering, decision rights, and escalation paths.
The charter becomes the reference for creating the detailed project plan and baselines.
Who creates it and when?
Who: Typically drafted by the project manager (or business analyst) in collaboration with the sponsor and primary stakeholders.
When: During Initiation — before detailed planning begins. It should be signed off early so planning is done against an agreed intent.