Chapter 2: Program Charter

Overview

A program charter summarizes the benefit of the intended project, including the purpose, goals, key people, potential problems, deadlines, and the budget. The program charter is essential in aligning the vision of the technology with the mission of the organization. Additionally, it provides necessary transparency, to keep all parties involved informed of the project goals and objectives. When proposing new technology, it is important to properly measure the “solution-level” benefits and align those benefits with objectives, as well as long-term returns (Braunschweig, 2019). Learn more about the specifics of the process and the charters alignment by viewing this page on Business Process Management.

In this section of the course, you will work through Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 of “Manage a Project with Digital Tools”. You will develop a program charter related to the scenario selected in Week 1. Then, you’ll submit it to your focus group and receive helpful feedback.

Planning Technology-Based Outreach

As you begin planning your technology-based outreach it is important to remember several key factors.

• Verify the program you are developing aligns with the mission detailed in the technology scenario. If for example you are shifting people to remote work, make sure the technology purchased to support the endeavor is not superfluous and all employees have equal access to the same things.
• Recognize who you are intending to serve, understand the profile of the key persons affected. How you communicate with a specific population will vary greatly. Consider the difference between speaking to senior executives in technology as opposed to senior executives in a library system; it is likely how you communicate will be different. Convey your message well, in an appropriate manner which all can understand, but do not condescend.
  • Beyond the standard conversations, it will likely be beneficial to have more personal conversations in small groups or with individuals to understand needs. Developing rapport with those involved will promote successful inclusion and acceptance of the program; you may even find advocates to the cause which you can use to bolster the program implementation.
• Consider the amount of training and practice required in order to become proficient in the use of a specific form of technology. Even just switching from a corded keyboard to a wireless one can require some troubleshooting. Here are some questions to consider when implementing new technology, adapted from Berman (2019):
  • How “robust” is it? Will it travel well? Is it waterproof? Does it need a case, bag, or another form of protection?
  • How easy is it to use? Is it accessible for all users? Will all personnel be able to use the tool without accommodations?
  • Can you add security elements to the resources to prevent theft?

Review the following questions, to begin planning for the program implementation adapted from Berman (2019).

Framework

Below is a sample of the project charter you will be creating as part of Lesson 2 in the Google Certificate. Select each of the hot spots to learn more about each component of the charter document.

Executive Summary/Brief

One more document to be aware of when preparing for a project is the executive summary, also known as an executive brief. The document provides an overview of the technology while also informing the audience of your research. An executive summary will include the following items:

• Overview: A concise explanation as to why the technology should be used.
• Problem Identification: Roughly a paragraph which documents the problem, using outside sources to support your perspective.
• Solution Explanation: Provide one to two paragraphs where you explain how your solution will solve the problem. Cite relevant examples where possible.
• Highlights: Provide research insights as to how the integration of the technology can be successful for the specific situation. You can combine written information with a properly formatted table to highlight the appropriate information.
• Keys to Success: Share a framework for how you implement the technology, including measurable steps.
• Conclusion: Conclude the summary with final thoughts, wrapping up the proposal.

Supplementary Resources

• Business process management/charter for alignment
• Team project management tools and strategies
• The role of technology-based education and teacher professional development in english as a foreign language classes
• Exploring educational planning, teacher beliefs, and teacher practices during the pandemic: A study of science and technology-based universities in China
• Using technology in short-term experiential activities
• Examining the impact of technology overload at the workplace
• Preparing workplaces for digital transformation: An integrative review and framework of multi-level factors
• Individualizing workplace learning with digital technologies
• Reviewing simulation technology: Implications for workplace training
• Workplace 4.0: Exploring the implications of technology adoption in digital manufacturing on a sustainable workforce

References

Berman, E. (2019). Your technology outreach adventure. American Library Association.

Braunschweigh, D. (2019). Business process management. Wikiversity. Retrieved on May 25, 2023 https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Business_process_management/Charter_for_alignment

Doerr, J. (2019). Why the secret to success is setting the right goals [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4N1q4RNi9I

TED Audio Collective (2022). How to rethink a bad decision [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2zWjQBz-2k