Feedback please – 4.3 – 4.5

List and describe five roles associated with a project environment. Include in your answer the responsibilities of each role

1. Project Sponsor
2. Project Manager
3. Steering Group
4. Team
5. Users

1. Project Sponsor – The project sponsor owns the business case, and fully understands the benefits it will bring to the organisation, and they oversee the project manager to ensure this is being executed. They assist the project manager managing stakeholders, sometimes in the case directly and personally. They are usually a peer of the steering group, and will be selected by a senior management board, so therefore has a collective responsibility in ensuring the deliverables of the project are met. In some cases, the project manager will use the support of the sponsor to solve problems that they cannot personally, and the sponsor may have to use his influence and network to remove these hurdles. The project manager will pass down key information to the project manager to minimise risks rather than dealing with the risk directly, and helps deal with the contingency and change controls from the end user.
2. Project Manager – The project manager runs the project and is responsible for the full delivery of the project in respect to the deliverables outlined at the outset. They execute the project through the procedures and processes within the PMP that they have produced. They manage the team and the stakeholders that are involved in the day to day running of the project. The project manager produces and owns the PMP, and it’s their responsible for ensuring that it is kept up to date, relevant and appropriate to the project being carried out. They will liaise with the end user on a regular basis, and their main objective is ensuring that the project is delivered to their expectations and delivers want they want. The project manager will manage the suppliers, usually through the form of a contractual relationship and usually with the supplier’s project manager.
3. Steering group – The steering group are the project sponsor’s peers and may nominate the project sponsor as they are the agent of the organisation. They assist in the process of influencing and managing the stakeholders due to their senior level within the organisation and level of authority. They will guide and support the sponsor throughout different stages of the project lifecycle. They are also key players in authorising the business case as they will have been closely involves in its preparation and different opinions need to be considered before it can be signed off.
4. Team – The team delivers the projects within the project constraints of time, cost and quality, and will produce the technical products under the direction of the project manager. They help to identify any changes or risks that become apparent as they are working very closely to the production element of the works so they are the first ones to notice smaller details that may need addressed. They are a key support to the project manager, and they will need to be fully motivated but must ensure they help and advise the project manager on key information when required.
5. Users – The users need to define what products they want, and what is required to be achieved. They will advise the sponsor on the suitability of the delivered products with regards to the specifications and requirements, and they will sign off products alongside the sponsor. They will be the end users and operators of the product so they need to ensure they fully operate to the objectives originally set. They liaise with the project manager with regards to any changes to the plans or deliverables and any issues that they may have with regards to the execution. They need to accept the authority of the sponsor as they own the accountability of the final product, and they have the final say over the requirements with regards to priority.