Creating a Project Charter with SharePoint

Creating a project charter is an essential step in ensuring the success of any project. A project charter provides a clear understanding of the project’s goals, objectives, scope, timeline, and stakeholders involved. SharePoint offers a range of features that can be used to create and manage a project charter.

First, let’s define what a project charter is: it is a document that outlines the project’s purpose, scope, deliverables, timelines, budget, and roles and responsibilities. A well-crafted project charter serves as a foundation for the entire project, providing clarity on what needs to be accomplished and by whom.

To create a project charter using SharePoint, follow these steps:

1. Start by creating a new site or subsite within your SharePoint environment. This will serve as the central location for all project-related information.
2. Use the “Site Settings” feature to set up a custom page layout that includes a table of contents, breadcrumbs, and other navigation elements.
3. Create a new list called “Project Charter” using the “Lists” feature in SharePoint. This list will contain the core information for your project charter.
4. Add the following columns to the Project Charter list:
   • Project Name: A text field where you can enter the name of your project
   • Objective: A text field that describes the purpose and objective of the project
   • Scope: A multi-line text field that outlines the scope of the project, including what needs to be accomplished and by whom
   • Timeline: A date range picker that allows you to set a start and end date for the project
   • Budget: A number field where you can enter the budget for the project
   • Roles and Responsibilities: A multi-line text field that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each team member or stakeholder involved in the project
5. Use the “Library” feature to create a folder structure within your site that will contain all relevant documents, reports, and other materials related to the project.
6. Create a new document library called “Project Documentation” and add folders for each major section of the project charter (e.g., scope, timeline, budget, etc.).
7. Use the “Page” feature in SharePoint to create a custom page that summarizes the key information from your project charter. This page can be used as a starting point for team members or stakeholders who need to quickly review the project’s goals and objectives.
8. Finally, use the “Alerts” feature to set up notifications when new information is added to the Project Charter list or when specific deadlines are approaching.

Some additional SharePoint features you may want to consider using in your project charter include:

• Task management: Use the Tasks app in SharePoint to create and manage tasks related to your project. This can help team members stay organized and focused on what needs to be accomplished.
• Wiki pages: Create wiki pages within your site that provide detailed information about specific aspects of the project, such as the scope or timeline. This can help reduce duplication of effort and improve collaboration among team members.
• Webinars: Use SharePoint’s webinar feature to schedule online meetings with team members or stakeholders. This can be especially useful for projects that involve remote teams or stakeholders who may not be able to attend in-person meetings.

By using these SharePoint features, you can create a comprehensive project charter that provides a clear understanding of the project’s goals and objectives, as well as the steps necessary to achieve them.