Creating a Project Management Office Charter

To prepare the charter, the PMO Manager, with the support of the PMO initiation team as needed, takes the five steps shown in this diagram:

1. Identify Vision
2. Describe Organization
3. Plan Approach to Execution
4. Identify Issues and Risks
5. Obtain Sponsor Approval

Identify Vision. The PMO is an ongoing office that will continue to operate long after the original problems that led to its creation are solved. Therefore, a vision that sees past current problems to strategic objectives is essential for the charter.

Describe Organization. The internal organization – staff roles and responsibilities – are defined. The external organization – the relationship between the PMO and each other stakeholder group – is then described.

Plan Approach to Execution. Looking ahead, the PMO manager reviews the steps of PMO execution and prepares a plan. This plan is an expansion of the Growth Plan in the PMO Business Plan.

Identify Issues and Risks. Any unresolved issues or potential barriers to success are identified early and documented.

Obtain Sponsor Approval. The PMO sponsor should review the PMO Charter, revise it if necessary, and then officially sign the charter, which formally launches the PMO and appoints the PMO manager.