Key Roles on Projects
The task of identifying all the project players and
their roles and responsibilities is not easy, but necessary. Within the
project environment, several roles are critical to the success of the
project.
The project team consists of members that fill
these key roles:
- Senior management
- Project sponsor
- Customer
- Implementer
-
Project manager
Senior Management
Senior management is responsible for aligning the project objectives
with the strategy of the organization. Senior management must be aware
of the value of the project to the organization and indicate the
importance of any particular project.
Project Sponsor
The project
sponsor primarily provides the financial resources for the project. In
this role, the sponsor promotes and supports the objectives of the
project. Additionally, the sponsor endorses the project’s goals by
championing the project, signing the charter document, and granting
approval at each milestone.
Customer
The customer assists the project team to determine
the project objectives and requirements. The customer is the end
recipient of the project’s product/service.
For any project
to be successful, the customer must be involved. The customer and the
project manager must work together to clearly define the requirements of
the deliverables.
Implementers
The implementers
of the project assist the project manager is designing a workable plan,
and then implementing the plan by doing the work.
Project Manager
The project manager is responsible for running the
project. Typical responsibilities include:
- Building a team
- Maintaining project records
- Managing conflict
- Creating a schedule
- Analyzing variance
- Reviewing work deliverables
- Scheduling activities and resources
Project managers require three core competencies, or skill sets, in
order to be effective.
These include skills in:
- Project management –including skills in project
planning,
managing activities, and reporting status
- General management – including communication,
leadership, facilitation, negotiation, decision making,
and organizational skills
- Application or business knowledge – including
expertise
or knowledge in areas such as software development,
construction, or information technology
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