What is the purpose of the project charter?

• A. To detail the entire project plan including schedule and budgets.
• B. To create the detailed risk register and mitigation strategies.
• C. To formally authorize the project, define its purpose, high-level objectives, initial risks, key stakeholders, and grant the project manager authority to expend resources.
• D. To authorize procurement of all resources.

Answer: (C)

The purpose of a project charter is to formally authorize the project and give the project manager the authority to apply organizational resources. It captures the why and what at a high level—the project's purpose, high‑level objectives, initial risks, and key stakeholders—so everyone involved shares a common understanding from the start. It also ties the effort to strategic goals by outlining the business case and establishing the authority and boundaries for decision‑making and resource use. This official go‑ahead legitimizes the project and anchors governance. Detailed planning work such as a full project plan with schedules and budgets, a separate risk register with mitigations, or broad procurement permissions come later and are not the charter’s role.