Leading Six Sigma: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on Experience with GE and Other Six Sigma Companies

Developing the Project Charter

The project charter has a critical impact on project success. This one-page document summarizes the key aspects of the project, in effect, defines what management wants done and what the Black Belt and Champion have agreed to accomplish. It forms a contract between all parties involved in the project.

Experience has shown that many continuous improvement projects fail because of misunderstandings among the team, the project leader, the customer, or management. For example, a team may proudly present a completed project that developed a web-based system for underwriting U.S. commercial credit lines for a leasing company. Management may have expected an internationalized version, however, and view the project as inadequate ...