Team Charter
A Team Charter is a formal document that outlines the purpose, goals, norms, roles, and agreed-upon working methods of a team. It serves as a foundational reference and agreement that guides how the team will operate and interact both internally and with other teams or stakeholders.
Purpose
A strong team charter acts as a compass, providing clarity and alignment. This comprehensive framework fosters a cohesive and productive team environment.
Format
The format of a team charter is flexible but the key areas that it should include are:
- Assigned value streams
- Metrics
- Roles
- Ground rules (communication, conflict resolution, decision-making)
Anti-Patterns
- Over Specificity: Making the charter too detailed or rigid, which can stifle flexibility and adaptability.
- Ambiguity: Leaving too many grey areas or undefined terms, leading to confusion and potential conflicts.
- Stagnation: Not revisiting or updating the charter as the team grows, evolves, or as organisational needs change.
- Non-adherence: Creating a charter but not referring to or abiding by it in day-to-day operations.
- Exclusion: Not involving all team members in the charter creation process, leading to a lack of buy-in or alignment.