Accidental project sponsors may lead to ineffective management support for projects. In every project, the project manager and his/her team needs management support. However, the sponsor role is often confused. Making changes and speaking the truth to those in power may not appear viable. Results are difficult to achieve when emphasis appears to be on controls. What can you do when support is not present or adequate or politics appear to rule? Take the initiative!
Get clear understanding about roles and responsibilities to ensure that all projects achieve successful outcomes. Develop a plan to work with sponsors on a regular basis and seek a better outcome from this interaction. Address how project managers manage their sponsors as well as how sponsors do their jobs to optimize project success. Case studies, checklists, and surveys illustrate how PMs can (and have!) successfully manage upwards. The desired end result is to dramatically and sustainably increase the probability of project success, especially in political yet innovative environments.
Learning Objectives:
- Overcome confusion and clarify authority, roles and responsibility of the project sponsor
- Create more effective working relationships via effective negotiations between sponsor and project manager
- Implement excellence in project sponsorship within your organization, leading to optimized business results
Skill Level: Intermediate
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Randy Englund, MBA, BSEE, NPDP, CBM
Executive Consultant
Englund Project Management Consultancy
Presenter Randy Englund shares his many years of experience, as a senior project manager and practitioner at Hewlett-Packard Company and as an executive consultant for the Englund Project Management Consultancy (www.englundpmc.com). He delights in creating memorable experiences, using multimedia, interactive discussions, and a systems approach to organizational learning. These derive from work in high tech new product development and in a corporate Project Management Initiative, whose purpose as a project office was to lead the continuous improvement of project management across the company. He also leads workshops world-wide and consults with managers and project teams on a variety of cross-organizational topics. As a firm believer in action learning and sharing experiences, his insights and style “bring the concepts from way up there, to right down here, equip you with the tools, and empower you to act.” Randy co-authored three best-selling business/management books: Creating an Environment for Successful Projects, Creating the Project Office, and Project Sponsorship, and he is a popular speaker at PMI and other professional association events. |
