An important component of the project charter is a measurable project objective. Use the ACORN Test to check if the project objective is well-defined.

Accomplishment: Focus on results instead of behaviours (“decrease complaints by 5%” is better than “increase customer satisfaction”)

Control: Define a project objective that the team can control. The team can control project costs but not foreign exchange rates.

Objective: Ensure that the project will be considered a success if the project objective, by itself, was achieved. Otherwise, sub objectives will need to be defined (not necessarily required to pass the O and R portions of the ACORN Test).

Reconciliation: Avoid conflicting or duplicating the project objectives of other projects. Do not work in isolation. Check with other project managers.

Numbers: Quantify the project objective (“5% faster than the industry benchmark” is better than “improve system performance”)

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Tags: acorn test, project charters

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