Depending on the organization, a project typically has a sponsor. The project sponsor provides decision leadership that is outside of the authority and position power of the project manager and project team. Active engagement and oversight by a project sponsor supports the project manager, the project team, and ultimately drives project outcomes. The sponsor also links the project team with the strategy and big-picture view at the executive level of the organization.
Sponsors perform the following functions, among others:
- Communicate the vision, goals, and expectations to the team.
- Advocate for the project and the team.
- Facilitate executive-level decisions.
- Help secure resources.
- Keep projects aligned to business objectives.
- Remove obstacles.
- Address issues outside the project team’s authority.
- Bring opportunities that arise within the project to senior management.
- Monitor project outcomes after closure to ensure intended business benefits are realized.
The sponsor’s position within the organization and the perspective from that level enable the sponsor to provide key support to the team in the following areas:
- Vision. Establish and/or communicate the vision and direction for the project.
- Business value. Work with the team consistently to maintain alignment with the strategic and business objectives. When the market, competition, and strategy are volatile and evolving, this may require frequent interactions to adjust project work to meet the evolving direction.
- Customer focus. Balance various stakeholder needs and priorities. When there are multiple stakeholders, especially stakeholders with conflicting needs, it may be necessary to prioritize stakeholder needs and make trade-offs.
- Decisions. Make decisions or direct decisions to the appropriate individual or group when there are decisions to be made that are outside of the project team’s authority. If the team cannot come to a decision or if the team is in conflict, sponsors can mediate conflict and facilitate the decision-making process.
- Motivation. Sponsors serve as a source of motivation for the project team by actively engaging with and supporting them.
- Accountability. Depending on the authority level of the role, sponsors are often accountable for the project outcomes. In this role, they may accept or reject the deliverables for the project.
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