Project Charter vs. Scope Statement

Project Charter vs. Scope Statement

Do you know the difference between a scope statement and a project charter?  Both documents are designed to tell everyone associated with the project exactly what the project entails, showcase the schedule, and deal with budgeting and resource issues.  So what is the difference or are they the same?

Quick Definition:

• Project Charter: Acknowledges the existence of a project
• Scope Statement: Defines where the major objectives and what the project deliverables

Differences between these two documents:

Project Charter:

• Official document created and approved by key stakeholders, after project idea has been identified
• Developed by the corporate executive or sponsor
• Defines the responsibilities and boundaries of the project manager and the project

Scope Statement:

• After the project charter is approved, the project manager can proceed with launching team building activities and defining the scope of the project
• Document that formalizes references the scope of everything that the project must produce that is used for future decision making
• Developed by the project manager with his/her project team members
• Acts as a response to the Sponsor/Project Charter

Reasons to Keep These Two Documents Separate:

• Avoid debate in the project approval phase, as the project charter is easier to gain project approval in the early phases & helps to move the scope statement more quickly to save time in the end
• Avoid early arguments over: deliverables, precise wording for the milestones, and objectives to help keep the direction of the project in the hands of the project manager, as written in the scope statement
• Project charter is delivered to those with the authority to sign off on, as it defines the project, and can be used as a reference by the project manager to keep the project on course through the marching orders of upper management

End of the Day Answer: The Project Charter and Project Scope Statement are similar, but different, as I have noted above, and should be kept as separate documents.