The Agile Project Charter (download free Agile Project Charter from link below)
Agile project management is a set of principles for agile team collaboration. It is a style initially introduced for software development that encourages early detection of and quick response to changes.
Agile Charter? Agile Project Charter? Team Charter? – What’s the difference?
In an Agile environment where documentation is minimal, knowing what and how much to document is important. It is essential to customize this initiation document to the needs of the project and the organization.
The Agile Project Charter is a document that defines the project’s goals, scope, and rules. It is the foundation of an Agile Project and it is essential to its success. The charter provides a shared understanding of what the project is and what the goals are.
The Team Charter can be used as a framework for team collaboration and for setting expectations with stakeholders. It also provides a clear set of guidelines for how to work together on the project in an Agile manner.
Some organizations prefer to use the term Agile Charter as a common document which includes both the Project and Team Charter.
When do we prepare one ?
The charter should be created before the project starts. Waterfall Project charters are agreed upon document fixed documents and changes to the same are viewed as fundamental deviations from the project. However, an agile project charter is a dynamic document and should be updated as needed during the course of the project.
Four Steps to Creating a Successful Agile Charter
- Determine your need.
Consider the requirements of your project – budget, timelines, complexity, team size. This would help figure out the optimum details which need to be included in the Agile Charter. Internal projects can have simpler charters. For external projects it is better to keep the legal agreement separate from the charter. This should be created by the lawyer and should be signed off by all parties involved in the project before any work can commence.
- Conduct preliminary stakeholder / project kickoff meeting
The preliminary kick off meeting is the first meeting with a client. In this meeting, it is important to have a clear idea of what different stakeholders want from the project. The client should know what kind of content they are looking for, and also if they have any specific requirements for deadlines or cost.
- Develop the Agile Charter
The simple version of an agile project charter is composed of four sections: Vision, Purpose, Objectives and High-Level Scope and Team Rules. The detailed version includes all these sections but also includes mission, values, can additionally include key risks, success and measurement criteria, approximate deadlines, budget, communication guidelines.
- Get approvals and update as you go
When approving a charter, the first consideration is transparency. The stakeholders should understand what they are approving and what the project’s purpose is. This will allow them to make an informed decision on whether or not to sign onto this project. Communication and alignment are also necessary. Stakeholders should be kept in the loop about how the project unfolds and expected methodology, so there is no confusion about what’s going on when it comes time for them to approve it again. Collaboration between all stakeholders involved in the project will help ensure that everyone has a say in how things progress, and everyone can be proud of their contributions to the final goal of completing the project successfully.
Agile project charters are a key part of the agile methodology. They serve as a contract between the client and the project team and ensure that everyone is on the same page about what needs to be done.
The agile project charter is an agreement in which both parties commit to specific goals, roles, responsibilities, and deadlines. It also outlines how success will be measured. This way both parties know exactly what they are signing up for and can make appropriate changes as needed to meet their goals.
Download your free Agile Project Charter to get started with your project. It will provide you with a customizable, ready to use template to help align your stakeholders.
