will be measured and a description of what is to be meas-
ured, monitored, or tracked while the recommendation is
being implemented- Unknowns and uncertainties—missing information
regarding the issue and actions that could negatively
affect the outcome - Assumptions—a description of what took the place of the
missing information - Constraints—anything that limits or precludes successful
implementation of the recommendation - Required support—the resources needed for the proposed
action - Liaison—list of other organizations or people that must be
involved for successful implementation, with a description
of what’s expected of each of them - Impact on others—a description of the impact of the pro-
posed action on other organizations, on specific individu-
als, on other programs or activities - Sponsorship—the level of active and visible support by
management or specific individuals necessary to ensure
success in achieving the stated benefits - Critical success factors—any issues that could make or
break the project and a statement of what’s required to
minimize or eliminate any threats
Securing Authorization to Proceed
As stated previously, you may need to secure formal manage-
ment authorization at this point to proceed with the project. In
some organizations, this formal authorization comes in the form
of a document called the Project Charter.
Project Charters vary widely in their design; however, many
have these characteristics:
- a description of the project and its stated objectives
- anticipated team membership
- the level of authority to be granted to the project man-
ager
Defining Your Project 73