A team charter is a statement that explains the team’s mission, goals, roles, and rules. It acts as a guide and agreement between team members, telling them how to act, make decisions, and work together during a project or effort.
The team charter is not a fixed text; it can change as the project moves forward and as new ideas or problems come up. It reminds team members of the team’s purpose, beliefs, and goals and can be used as a point of reference. This helps team members understand each other and work together.
Typically, a team plan has the following parts:
1. Team Purpose: A clear statement that says what the team is for, what its goals are, and why it was put together. It describes the problem or chance the team wants to take advantage of and makes sure everyone knows what the team’s goal is.
2. Team Goals and outputs: The team is expected to meet specific, measurable goals and outputs. These goals are in line with the project’s general goals, and they help the team stay focused on what they need to do.
3. Jobs and responsibilities: The team charter says what each team member’s jobs and responsibilities are. It makes clear the expectations, responsibilities, and levels of authority for each job, so everyone knows who is responsible for what.
4. Making decisions: The team’s decision-making process is laid out in the team plan. It says how choices will be made, who has the power to make them, and if there are any specific rules or criteria that should be taken into account.
5. Communication Rules: Clear rules for how the team should talk to each other, including favourite ways to talk, how often they should meet, and how to share information. It supports open and honest communication, which helps team members work well together.
6. Norms and values of the team: The team charter sets the rules and values that guide how the team acts and works together. It tells team members what kind of behaviour, respect, and professionalism are expected of them, which makes for a good team atmosphere.
7. Tools and help for the team: The team charter lists the tools, resources, and help that are available to the team. This could mean giving the team access to certain technologies, training chances, money, or any other resources it needs to reach its goals.
8. A high-level timeline and major goals for the project or effort are included in the team charter. It helps the team stay on track by making sure everyone knows the project’s schedule and important dates.
9. Resolving Conflicts: The team charter spells out how differences or conflicts within the team can be solved. It motivates people to talk, listen, and work together to solve problems in a constructive way.
10.Signatures: At the end of the team charter, everyone on the team signs it. This shows that they agree with the charter and will work together based on its ideals.
