The project Sponsor is usually a senior member of the department’s management team, which will ultimately be the recipient of the project’s end result. The Sponsor is an important Stakeholder, usually head of a program area and not a day-to-day staff person. This is the person who makes the business argument for the project to exist and usually controls the overall funding of the project.
General Functions
- Articulates program or department requirements
- Provides business direction to the Project Team
- Ensures that requirements are met
- Provides necessary funding and resources as appropriate
- Champions the project to provide exposure and buy-in from organizational executives
- Communicates views on project progress and success factors to the Project Team and other Stakeholders
Initiation Stage
- Provides strategic plans and guidance to correctly identify the relevance and value of the project both today and in the future
- Defines Sponsor needs
- Obtains funding for project when necessary
- Assigns sponsorship personnel as points of contact
- Approves Project Charter and champions it before the Executive Committee
Planning Stage
- Assigns Project Manager
- Attends kick-off meeting
- Participates in planning sessions
- Assigns personnel through the Project Manager
- Approves funding along with Executive Committee
- Reviews and approves Scope Statement and Project Plan
Managing Stage
- Attends executive requirement reviews
- Provides written agreement to requirements and qualifying criteria
- Helps resolve requirements problems
- Helps resolve issues, as appropriate
- Attends and participates as needed at Project Status Reviews and Executive Committee meetings
Closeout Stage
- Attends Final System Acceptance meeting
- Provides representatives to attend Outcomes Assessment meeting
- Attends Outcomes Assessment or Lessons Learned meeting
- Signs-off on project completion