It is extremely important to record what you, your sponsor, and stakeholders were thinking at the time of the charter. Have you ever taken a note in a meeting and then read it two weeks later and not been able to remember what it meant? Imagine this problem on a large project. Also, many things are interpreted in many different ways. For example, if your boss says you have one day to complete a task, an immediate assumption is made. You may think that you have until the end of the business day, which is generally eight hours. However, a day is twenty-four hours long. So which definition is right? There is no right or wrong, but it is important to document the assumption. Even something as simple as saying, “That can be done in a day” carries an assumption. It is important to understand that assumption and document it.

The other key documentation to record is any decisions made. As you make decisions regarding what something means, what is part of the project and what isn't, and other items, document them within the charter. It is important to be able to come back to the charter later and understand what you were thinking at the time decisions were made.