Why a Clear Project Charter Dramatically Improves Delivery
When projects miss deadlines, blow budgets, or drift out of scope, the post-mortem usually sounds familiar.
- “The brief wasn’t clear.”
- “That’s not what I thought we agreed.”
- “No one told us that had changed.”
- “We assumed someone else was across it.”
Very rarely is the root cause a lack of intelligence, effort, or intent.
In my experience, most project failures are caused by miscommunication—or more precisely, assumed communication.
And that is exactly why a clear, written Project Charter is not optional if you care about delivery.
The Illusion of Alignment
Projects often start with enthusiasm:
- A kickoff meeting
- A shared sense of urgency
- Verbal agreement on “what success looks like”
Everyone leaves the room believing they are aligned. They aren’t.
What they actually have is:
- Different interpretations of the goal
- Different assumptions about scope
- Different views on priority and urgency
- Different expectations of who decides what
Verbal alignment is fragile.
Written clarity is durable.
Where Projects Commonly Go Wrong
When a project struggles, the symptoms show up as:
- Scope creep
- Missed timelines
- Cost overruns
- Friction between teams
- Escalations to senior leaders
But the causes usually trace back to unanswered questions such as:
- Why are we doing this?
- What does “done” actually mean?
- Who owns the outcome?
- What is in scope—and what is explicitly not?
- How and when will progress be reviewed?
If these aren’t agreed upfront, the project is already at risk.
The Project Charter: A Communication Contract
A project charter is not bureaucracy.
It is a shared contract for understanding.
At its best, a project charter forces alignment on five critical elements:
The What
What is the project, in plain language?
The Why
Why does this matter now? What problem does it solve or opportunity does it unlock?
The Desired Outcome
What does success look like—specifically and measurably?
Guardrails (Scope, Time, Cost, Authority)
What are the boundaries? What is out of scope? What constraints apply?
Check-Ins & Governance
How progress will be reviewed, decisions made, and issues escalated.
Miss any one of these, and people will fill in the gaps themselves. That’s when misalignment becomes inevitable.
Why Written Beats Verbal (Every Time)
A written charter does three powerful things:
- It removes ambiguity
People stop guessing what others meant. - It creates accountability
Ownership and decision rights are visible, not implied. - It prevents retroactive disagreement
When pressure hits, the charter becomes the reference point—not memory or opinion.
Importantly, the value is not just the document. The value is the discipline of forcing the conversation upfront.
The Hidden Cost of “We’ll Figure It Out As We Go”
Many teams resist project charters because they feel:
- “Too formal”
- “Too slow”
- “Overkill for this size project”
Ironically, those same projects almost always:
- Take longer than expected
- Require more meetings
- Create more rework
- End up escalating anyway
Skipping clarity at the start doesn’t save time.
It defers confusion—and multiplies it.
Project Charters Build Trust, Not Red Tape
Well-run teams don’t rely on heroics or constant clarification.
They rely on:
- Clear intent
- Shared understanding
- Explicit boundaries
A good project charter allows teams to:
- Move faster without checking every decision
- Resolve disagreements objectively
- Stay focused when priorities compete
It turns delivery from a negotiation into execution.
The Bottom Line
When a project goes off track, don’t ask:
“Who dropped the ball?”
Ask: “Where was the communication unclear?”
In most cases, the answer will be:
“At the beginning.”
A clear, written project charter doesn’t guarantee success-
but it dramatically increases the probability of it.
Because clarity is not overhead.
It is the foundation of delivery.
TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS
Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.
My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.
ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION
For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.
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