Program Charter
[Insert Program Name]
Type the author name
Last Updated: November 14, 2012
Program Charter – [Insert Program Name]
Program Overview
Problem Statement
Outline why this program is important and what it needs to achieve. What is the problem this program
is meant to solve?
[Insert Problem Statement here]
Program Description
Provide a brief description of the program, including what the end state of the program will look like and
how it will benefit the University. What are the key strategic drivers? What is the program’s relationship
with University strategic objectives, and with other ongoing strategic initiatives? Who are the program’s
sponsor(s), program manager, and customers? Is there an organizational structure of the group
executing the program that should be documented here?
[Insert Program Description here]
Program Goals & Objectives
What are the goals and objectives of this program? What are the key benefits/goals sought for this
program? What are the key program outcomes? What measurements will be used for the objectives?
[Insert Program Goals & Objectives here]
Program Scope
What is and is not included in the scope of this program?
[Insert Program Scope here]
Program Critical Success Factors
What is required for the success of this program? What dependencies are there for this program to be
successful? What factors contribute towards the realization of the benefits & goals identified for this
program?
[Insert Program Critical Success Factors here]
Program Assumptions and Constraints
What are the assumptions, constraints, and external factors considered to shape the program?
[Insert Program Assumptions and Constraints here]
Program Risks and Issues
What are the initial risks and issues for the program? List any mitigation steps put in place initially for
these risks and issues. Note that these will be expanded upon within the program’s components
/projects.
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Program Charter – [Insert Program Name]
[Insert Program Risks and Issues here]
Program Organization
Program Structure
What components/projects are required for this program? How will these components/projects be
configured/ managed to ensure the program is successful? What is the relationship between the
components/projects? How will components/projects for this program be selected? This section may
also include a high level program plan for all components/projects.
[Insert Program Structure here]
Program Governance
What is the recommended governance structure to manage, control, and support the program? What
are the recommended governance structures to manage and control projects and other program
components, including reporting requirements?
[Insert Program Governance here]
Program Stakeholders
Who are the program’s stakeholders and what is their attitude towards the program? What is the initial
strategy to manage them? What is the initial communications plan for these stakeholders.
This section is probably best documented with the use of a stakeholder and communication charts. The
stakeholder chart should include stakeholder identification information (name, position, location, role in
project), stakeholder assessment information (their major requirements, main expectations, potential
influence in the project, phases of life cycle that most interest them), and stakeholder classification
(internal/external to project, supportive/neutral/resistant/etc. to project). The primary stakeholder
should be clearly identified in the chart.
The communications chart should include stakeholder, messages, communication medium, frequency,
communicators, and feedback mechanism.
[Insert Program Stakeholders here]
Program Roles & Responsibilities
Provide a high level description of the roles and associated responsibilities that will be required for the
success of this program. This could be documented with a RACI chart. Note specific skill sets for a
responsibility, if applicable.
[Insert Program Roles & Responsibilities here]
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Program Charter – [Insert Program Name]
Program Authority & Milestones
Program Funding Authority
What are the expected costs and benefits associated with the program? How will these costs and
benefits be managed (controlled, monitored and reported upon)? Who has funding authority for the
program? What timelines are the costs and benefits expected to be realized?
[Insert Program Funding Authority here]
Program Milestones
What is the total length of the program (begin date, and end date), including all key milestone dates?
This can be broken down by program components/projects.
[Insert Program Milestones here]
Program Points of Contact
List all key program points of contact.
[Insert Program Points of Contact here]
Approval
This charter formally authorizes [Program XXX], based on the information outlined in this charter.
Should any of this information change throughout the duration of the program, it shall be discussed by
[insert statement according to program’s governance on where changes are discussed] and documented
under [insert statement where program’s documented changes are recorded].
Approved by: [insert who has approved the charter]
Approval Date: [insert date the charter is approved]
This approval was discussed by [insert where this approval was discussed] and documented at [insert
where documentation for approval resides].
Revision History
Provide a chart where document revisions are recorded. This chart should include who made the
revision, the date made, what was revised, who it was reviewed & approved by, and the date it was
reviewed & approved.
[Insert Revision History chart]
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