CompTIA Project+ Practice Test

What is the primary purpose of a project charter?

1. To track project progress

2. To define project scope and objectives

3. To manage project resources

4. To create work breakdown structure

The correct answer is: To define project scope and objectives

The primary purpose of a project charter is to define project scope and objectives. A project charter serves as an authoritative document that formally initiates a project. It outlines the project goals, major deliverables, key stakeholders, and overall direction. By clearly stating the scope and objectives, it ensures that everyone involved has a mutual understanding of what the project aims to achieve, which is critical for aligning the project team and stakeholders. This foundational document acts as a reference point for decision-making throughout the project lifecycle, helping to guide the team's efforts and provide clarity as the project progresses. While tracking project progress, managing resources, and creating a work breakdown structure are essential components of project management, they are not the primary function of a project charter. Tracking progress happens during execution and monitoring phases, resource management is an ongoing activity, and work breakdown structures are developed to help manage and organize project tasks. The project charter, however, sets the stage and provides the essential framework upon which all other project activities are built.