Project Sponsorship

Abstract

Project Sponsorship relates to and differs from Project Management, as well as defines the role of sponsor by linking it strongly with principals such us leadership, risk-taking and strategy planning.

A Project Sponsor could be a range of providers and entities supporting the goals and objectives of an individual or company. In Engineering projects, sponsor is the most influential individual (or the mentor) who would be involved and therefore would contribute technically or strategically in them.

Project Sponsorship is based primarily on exchange theory between sponsors and project owners. Hence, uncertainty about the true worth of a sponsorship deal and its potential to deliver on the desired objectives and vice versa can underlie risks between both sites. Thus, Project sponsorship is also strongly connected with risk identification.

In Engineering projects, sponsorship illustrates the definition, decision, justification, agreement and security of overall budgets, resources and timescales that respond to the aim of each project\case. A fundamental factor to achieve projects success (operationally, economically or financially) is the adjustment of a well-orientated strategy and portfolio direction that are inseparable principals of project's sponsorship.

Furthermore, despite the importance of stakeholders who are actively involve in project governance, a project sponsor's duty is to set an inclusive framework which defines the roles, relationships and positions of internal and external stakeholders inside and outside of the project’s governance structure.

Definition of Sponsorship

Project sponsorship is defined as the ownership of projects on behalf of a client or organization in terms of corporate accountability. It is strongly connected with leadership and it is improved by awareness of different leadership, styles, models etc. It is also closely connected to delegating responsibility and related techniques. Project Sponsorship and Project Management are linked crucially together and are mutually dependent roles, but the key difference between them is that Project Sponsorship mainly involves in other important issues such us authorizing changes in scope, phase-end reviews and go/no-go decisions when risks are particularly high. Although Project Management literature often discusses the role of the Project Executive Sponsor, it fails to describe the factors contributing to effective Project Sponsorship, a role that is increasingly associated with Project success. This failure is exacerbated by research focusing on either the structural or the behavioral factors are most commonly defined as key project roles. Project sponsorship could be provided by number of organizations, including international scientific unions and committees, intergovernmental entities, national space agencies, private companies and in some cases, could by provided by an individual.

Role and Contribution of Sponsorship in Projects

Defining sponsorship, or simpler the sponsor’s contribution in a project lifecycle is vital. Considering the sponsor as a person or group that provides financial resources, its contribution begins from the conception of a project and ends with a completion of it. Begging with the conception of a project as an idea, the contribution of sponsor starts with the selection of the most profitable one by defining what is and what is not to scope. Having selected the idea and starting it through a project charter, sponsorship mainly contributes in financing it. The financing area of a project is within the top responsibilities of the project sponsor. Thus, sponsor should ensure that a project has enough and sufficient financial resources to go about its operation. Whether the project is on a preliminary level or due to a change in process, it is the project sponsor’s duty to see if the project is well equipped resource-wise and arrange for the same if otherwise. Moreover, in case of additional funding or alternative financial resources for the project, project sponsorship should contribute to facilitate it. While project’s implementation, sponsorship strongly corresponds with project success and overall communication to the project team. In other words, sponsor needs to “champion it” by achieving the goals and “communicate it” to the organization, stakeholders and upper management by serving as an escalation path. In Engineering project scenarios, any potential change in project operation must be introduced and approved from project sponsorship. The project manager merely presents the change process to the sponsor, along with recommendation and information on how it impacts the current project plan and timeline. The sponsor should contribute to facilitate any changes that have to be made if they find it suitable.