What it is: Finalize Project Charter & Gain Approvals

Description
The project charter is formally accepted and approved by the project sponsor and other designated stakeholders. Formal approval acknowledges the completion, review and acceptance of all the deliverables produced during the Initiate Stage.   

Signatures on the project charter document mark final approval of the charter, which is the go-forward agreement.

Rationale/Purpose
An approved and signed charter is a commitment to dedicate the required time and resources for the project and ushers in the Plan Stage.

Who is involved
Project Manager
Project Sponsor
Project Stakeholders

Result
A finalized and approved project charter can be viewed as a deliverable in itself

 

How to: Finalize Project Charter & Gain Approvals

Recommended actions and strategies
The diagram below shows the steps to finalizing and approving a project charter. 

1.	Compile deliverables or results from all the previous Initiate Stage activities into a Project Charter document.

2.	Distribute the charter to the Project Sponsor and other appropriate stakeholders.

3.	Schedule a meeting with Project Sponsor and other relevant stakeholders to review the deliverables produced during the Initiate Stage.

4.	Make any changes from the formal review and finalize the Project Charter deliverable.

5.	The Project Sponsor determines if the project will proceed. This is a “go/no-go” decision point. The Project Sponsor should indicate the reasons for rejecting the project if the decision is a no-go.

6.	If the project is a go, obtain signatures from the Project Sponsor and any other designated stakeholder.

 

Templates/Examples: Finalize Project Charter & Gain Approvals

IntroductionThe table below provides several tools and templates you can use to help finalize your project charter.

Template	Example
Charter Approval	Charter Approval
Charter	Charter
Charter EZ	Charter EZ