The Importance of Project Sponsors

Dateline: March 27, 2015

Welcome to our Friday WRAP – one thought-provoking idea to think about over the weekend.

Professors Timothy J. Kloppenborg and Debbie Tesch, from Xavier University’s Williams College of Business, published a thought-provoking research study about project success in the Sloan Management Review.  The article, How Executive Sponsors Influence Project Success, suggests

The role of project sponsors is often overlooked. But for every stage of a project, there are key executive sponsor behaviors that can make the difference between success and failure.

The four stages, and the sponsor behaviors, are:

(1) initiating — from the preliminary idea through approved charter-sponsors set performance goals, select and mentor the project manager, and establish priorities.
(2) planning — from approved charter through approved project plan-sponsors ensure that all the necessary planning is accomplished on a timely basis and develop productive relationships with stakeholders.
(3) executing — from approved project plan through acceptance of major deliverables-sponsors ensure adequate and effective communication, maintain relationships with stakeholders and ensure quality.
(4) closing — from acceptance of major deliverables through final completion- sponsors identify and capture lessons learned and ensure that capabilities and benefits are realized.

What do you want your executive sponsors to do for you and your teams?

That’s a WRAP! Have a great weekend.

Speak Your Mind

*