As we discussed in the last post, one of the key factors in the success of any project is ensuring that each team member is clear about their own roles and responsibilities, as well as the roles and responsibilities of those around them. This understanding of their role extends beyond the immediate members of the project team and even to the Executive Sponsor. For all projects, but especially for large projects, the Executive Sponsor is critical. He provides the vision, and usually the funding and some of the key resources.
For the Executive Sponsor, these are the basic functions they should be expected to perform on a project:
◊ Visionary: The Executive Sponsor needs to provide the vision for the project. He needs to have a view of how the project aligns to the corporate goals and benefits the organization. He should also be able to articulate the project's overall objectives.
◊ Champion: The Executive Sponsor needs to be the project champion. Especially for projects that require a change in the organization or a change to a business process, the Executive Sponsor needs to be the champion who reinforces to the entire organization that the project has executive backing and that they are all expected to support the change in the interest of the project goals.
◊ Fullback: The Executive Sponsor will be the fullback for the project team in general and especially for the project manager. He will block obstacles and distractions from impacting the project team, and he will clear the path for the team to succeed.
◊ Quartermaster: The Executive Sponsor needs to ensure that the project team gets all the resources they need to succeed. The project manager will identify the resources, but the Executive Sponsor needs to provide the backing that ensures that the resources are allocated quickly.
◊ The Pig: The Executive Sponsor needs to be the person who is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the project. In the adage about the pig and the chicken and their involvement in the making of a breakfast of ham and eggs, the chicken is invested in the breakfast - but the pig is definitely committed. Similarly, the Executive Sponsor needs to be committed to the project, because only then will the project have the attention and focus from the Executive Sponsor that it needs.
◊ Champion: The Executive Sponsor needs to be the project champion. Especially for projects that require a change in the organization or a change to a business process, the Executive Sponsor needs to be the champion who reinforces to the entire organization that the project has executive backing and that they are all expected to support the change in the interest of the project goals.
◊ Fullback: The Executive Sponsor will be the fullback for the project team in general and especially for the project manager. He will block obstacles and distractions from impacting the project team, and he will clear the path for the team to succeed.
◊ Quartermaster: The Executive Sponsor needs to ensure that the project team gets all the resources they need to succeed. The project manager will identify the resources, but the Executive Sponsor needs to provide the backing that ensures that the resources are allocated quickly.
◊ The Pig: The Executive Sponsor needs to be the person who is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the project. In the adage about the pig and the chicken and their involvement in the making of a breakfast of ham and eggs, the chicken is invested in the breakfast - but the pig is definitely committed. Similarly, the Executive Sponsor needs to be committed to the project, because only then will the project have the attention and focus from the Executive Sponsor that it needs.
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