{"id":56506,"date":"2021-03-04T14:08:06","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T20:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/?p=56506"},"modified":"2026-04-20T15:11:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T20:11:21","slug":"project-brief-template","status":"publish","type":"templates","link":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/templates\/project-brief-template","title":{"rendered":"Project Brief Template"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re starting to work on a project plan or need to explain the project in broad terms to your stakeholders, you need a project brief to define all the main points. It\u2019s the best way to inform and communicate the project summary.<\/p>\n

Get a head start on your project brief by downloading our free project brief template\u2014all you\u2019ll need to do is fill in the details.<\/p>\n

The project brief template sketches the broad strokes, but to get the full picture and better communicate the plan to your team and stakeholders, project management software is required. ProjectManager<\/a> builds your project scope into a schedule. Our Gantt chart does more than populate a project timeline, it automatically calculates your critical path and then saves the plan to use as a ruler to measure your actual progress during execution. Create your budget by adding planned resource costs, which can also be compared to actual costs once the project begins. Our tool turns your proposal into a successful project.<\/p>\n

\"Manufacturing<\/a>
Turn a project brief into a schedule that tracks tasks & progress. Learn more<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Is a Project Brief Template?<\/h2>\n

A project brief<\/a> outlines the approach and process of a project. It summarizes the main parts of a project, including whatever requirements there are. As the name implies, the document is meant to be brief! This is not the place to dive deep into the finer details.<\/p>\n

\"ProjectManager's<\/a>
ProjectManager’s free project brief template for Word.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Instead, the project brief is where the major kinks are worked out. Here, you\u2019ll determine the objectives, goals, scope,<\/a> major deliverables, milestones,<\/a> process and resources. By laying this out, you ensure that everyone is on the same page for the more complex project plan.<\/p>\n

The project brief can be seen as a summary of your project plan. It will talk about roughly the same elements, only in an abbreviated form. For example, the project plan will go into the budget,<\/a> the communication plan and much more. The project brief tends to focus solely on the objective, schedule and scope, although it can include the target audience as well.<\/p>\n

Why Do You Need a Project Brief Template?<\/h2>\n

Use a project brief to capture the main elements of your project and communicate them to the project team<\/a> and stakeholders. Through clear communication, your project will run smoothly.<\/p>\n

The project brief also lays the groundwork for the larger project plan. By getting the broad strokes down and defining the project from a high-level view, planning is easier because you have a clear sense of the direction it needs to take.<\/p>\n

Using our project brief template helps you make sure you don\u2019t overlook any important details as you define the end goal of the project. This template will sketch out details such as the client, project objectives and details. All of which is key to managing a successful project.<\/p>\n

Who Uses a Project Brief Template?<\/h2>\n

The project brief is used by the project manager<\/a> to inform the project stakeholder and the project team about the main goal of the project. It is prepared by the project manager and then reviewed by those who use it, including suppliers.<\/p>\n

The final project brief is approved by the organization\u2019s executives. It\u2019s all part of the initiation phase of a project but is often referred to throughout the life cycle of the project.<\/a> In a sense, it\u2019s used by everyone in the project as a compass to make sure they\u2019re all heading in the right direction.<\/p>\n

How to Use Our Free Project Brief Template<\/h2>\n

Just follow these steps and you\u2019ll have this project brief template ready to share with stakeholders and your team in no time.<\/p>\n

Project Name and Date<\/h3>\n

The project name and date that the brief was made are located on the top right-hand side of the document. This identifies what it is and attaches it to one project, which is helpful when your organization is managing a program or portfolio.<\/a> It also makes it easier to find after the project is completed; you may want to use the brief as historical data for a new, similar project.<\/p>\n

Summary, Goals and Objectives<\/h3>\n

After that comes the meat of the project brief. It begins with the client for the project and then a summary of the project. Then, you input the goals and objectives of the project; in other words, the agreed upon outcomes and how you\u2019re going to get there.<\/p>\n

Constraints and Assumptions<\/h3>\n

Next, there\u2019s a space to outline the constraints and assumptions of the project. These are the things that might limit your progress and other things you\u2019re taking for granted that might end up surprising you. This is followed by the scope of the project<\/a>, which outlines deliverables.<\/p>\n

Target Audience and Responsible Parties<\/h3>\n

Whether you\u2019re making a product or service, there\u2019s a target audience and they must be defined in the project brief. Here, you can outline who they are and how the project meets a need they have. The next space is where you identify who is responsible for determining that the project is successful and by what criteria they will measure that success.<\/p>\n

Budget and Timeline<\/h3>\n

While not a fully realized budget, there is a place for you to outline the costs associated with executing the project. There is also a timeline or schedule of events<\/a> that will make up the project. This will show the duration of the project by making an accurate estimation of the time it will take between the start and the finish of the project.<\/p>\n

How ProjectManager Turns Your Brief Into a Project<\/h2>\n

ProjectManager<\/a> is an award-winning project management software that organizes tasks, teams and projects. Once stakeholders approve your brief and the team understands it, you have to execute it. Our online software helps you better plan, monitor and report on your project.<\/p>\n\"A<\/a>\n

Once you have broken your final deliverable into tasks that get you there, manage them on the Gantt chart.<\/a> The Gantt schedules your work, lets you link dependent tasks to avoid bottlenecks and breaks down the project into phases.<\/p>\n

High-level views of the project\u2019s performance and progress are available on the real-time dashboard,<\/a> which does all the calculations for you and displays cost, project variant, workload and more in easy to read graphs and charts. One-click filterable reports<\/a> keep stakeholders updated.<\/p>\n\"Light<\/a>\n

Other Templates to Help With Your Project Brief<\/h2>\n

ProjectManager has dozens of free project management templates<\/a> that assist you over the life cycle of your project. Here are a few that can help you get your project brief together.<\/p>\n

Project Budget Template<\/a><\/h3>\n

While your project brief will not go into detail about the budget, costs are important to outline. To get a jump on the financial component of your project, use our free project budget template. It outlines the cost of your project and helps you monitor your expenditure.<\/p>\n

Project Charter Template<\/a><\/h3>\n

Because you need to define the goals of the project when composing a brief, it can be very helpful to use our free project charter template. The project charter defines the vision of the project, it\u2019s objective, scope and deliverables\u2014all relevant to your project brief.<\/p>\n

Statement of Work Template<\/a><\/h3>\n

The free statement of work template is another means to collect all the pertinent information about your project and, in turn, help you develop the project brief. It speaks to the activities, deliverables and timetable to get all this work done.<\/p>\n

Related Content<\/h2>\n

ProjectManager is also an online hub that publishes hundreds of blogs, tutorial videos and guidebooks on every aspect of project management. It\u2019s a great resource for newcomers and seasoned professionals. Here are just a few of the pieces on the site that are relevant to creating a project brief.<\/p>\n