Project Sponsorship: Achieving Management Commitment for Project Success

The second edition of Project Sponsorship—which includes an Appendix with new case studies, expanded assessment tools, and templates—shows how project sponsors and project managers can develop the skills they need to manage successful projects. Randall L. Englund and Alfonso Bucero—experts in the field of project management—have written the definitive guide for educating all stakeholders on the nature of project sponsorship. They describe in detail the responsibilities of the project sponsor, from communications and liaison, selection and training, problem solving, mentoring, and feedback, to the review of project execution. The project sponsor and manager learn how to negotiate effectively with each other and the project team to achieve their commitments.

The success or failure of any project often hinges on how well the project sponsor—the person who funds the project and ensures that desired benefits are achieved—relates to the project, the project manager, and other stakeholders. However, executives who are assigned as project sponsors often have little if any experience understanding their roles and responsibilities during the project life cycle. Problems in communication and execution¿are inevitable as long as senior managers and project managers do not understand the mechanics of their relationship.

Project Sponsorship—which includes case studies, checklists, and action plans—shows how project sponsors and project managers can develop the skills they need to manage successful projects. Randall L. Englund and Alfonso Bucero—experts in the field of project management—have written the definitive guide for educating all stakeholders in the nature of project sponsorship. They describe in detail the responsibilities of the project sponsor, from communications and liaison, selection and training, problem solving, mentoring, and feedback, to the review of project execution. The project sponsor and manager learn how to negotiate effectively with each other and the project team to achieve their commitments.

This book offers a key resource for expanding best practices in project sponsorship across organizations. Project Sponsorship helps project sponsors establish directions for the future, communicate through vision, create aligned high-performance teams, and focus on planning—all of which will lead an organization to success. This book illuminates the stairway to achieving excellence in project sponsorship.