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Working with the sponsor to document quantifiable and measurable goals is key to the

project success. It gives the customer, sponsor, key stakeholders, project manager, and
team members the same common understanding of the end result of the project.

Project Description

The project description documents the key characteristics of the product, service, or
result that will be created by the project. The project description also documents the
relationship between the product being created and the business need that drove the

project request. This description needs to contain enough detail to be the foundation
for the Planning process group, which begins once the charter is signed.

The project description in the charter starts out at a high level, and more
details are added once you develop the project scope statement, which is discussed
in Chapter 4.

Key Deliverables

Deliverables are measurable outcomes or results or are specific items that must be
produced in order to consider the project complete. Deliverables are tangible and are
easily measured and verified. For example, let’s say your project involves
manufacturing a new garden cart. One of the components of the cart is wheels. Because
of the design of your cart, the wheels must be 12 inches in diameter. This is a tangible,
verifiable deliverable that must be met in order for the project to be a success.

Getting the deliverables and the requirements correct are critical to the success of your
project. No matter how well you apply your project management skills, if the wrong
deliverables are produced or the project is managed to the wrong objectives, you will
have an unsuccessful project on your hands (and will probably need to update your
resume).

High-Level Requirements

Requirements describe the characteristics of the deliverables that must be met in order
to satisfy the needs of the project. Requirements might also describe results or
outcomes that must be produced in order to satisfy a contract, specification, standard,
or other project document (typically, the scope statement). Requirements quantify and
prioritize the wants, needs, and expectations of the project sponsor and stakeholders.

The project charter contains a high-level look at the requirements. As you progress in

the planning of the project, more information will become known, and the
requirements will become much more detailed. I will talk more about requirements in
Chapter 4, “Creating the Work Breakdown Structure.”

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