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the project. Their concerns aren’t going to go away, and if you ignore some of your

stakeholders, the issues they raise will become more and more difficult to resolve as
the project progresses. Take the time to meet with them regularly. This will help you to
set and clarify expectations and help them see the benefits of moving forward with the
project.

The Project Sponsor

The project sponsor is usually an executive in the organization who has the authority to

assign money and resources to the project. The sponsor may also serve as a champion
for the project within the organization. The sponsor is an advisor to the project
manager and acts as the tiebreaker decision maker when consensus can’t be reached
among the stakeholders. One of the primary duties of a project manager is keeping the
project sponsor informed of current project status, including conflicts or potential

risks.

A project champion is usually the project sponsor or one of your key
stakeholders. They spread the great news about the benefits of the project and act
as a cheerleader of sorts, generating enthusiasm and support for the project.

The project sponsor/champion typically has the following responsibilities:

Provide or obtain financial resources

Approve the project charter

Approve the project baseline

Help define and approve the high-level requirements

Define the business case and justification for the project
Authorize assignment of human resources to the project

Assign the project manager and describe their level of authority

Serve as final decision maker for all project issues

Negotiate support from key stakeholders

Communicate or market the benefits of the project

Monitor and control delivery of major milestones

Run interference and remove roadblocks

The project baseline includes the approved schedule, cost, scope, and
quality plans and documents. The project baseline is then used to measure

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