The Project Sponsor is hugely influential in major projects.
The Sponsor
- Provides the line of sight between the project and the benefits of whatever is delivered;
- Acts as the broker between the project organization and the client(s);
- Is the first port of call for the project team seeking further resources or to authorize major changes to scope or schedule;
- Needs to be visible and accessible;
- Must have the requisite authority, responsibility and skills to make some of the tough decisions that will affect the project’s future
The challenge is not made easier by the fact that, in many organisations, the Sponsor is fulltime but is an add-on to other functional or executive responsibilities.
The Project Sponsors Network, hosted and facilitated by the Major Projects Association provides a peer-to-peer community for sponsors across industries to share knowledge, expertise and learn and develop skills for a role which has no formal career path.
Sponsors Network – Vision
The network vision underpins the activities and events that we undertake:
- Sponsors are empowered to focus on outcomes, insist on value for money and embed sustainability targets at all stages of the investment.
- Sponsorship is a well respected an integral component of the project profession and attracts the best people from diverse backgrounds, ages and career stages. There is a variety of support material, networking opportunities and collaboration between theory and practice for Sponsors to develop and thrive in their chosen profession.
- The role is well defined in the literature and well understood across organisations and industry. Sponsors can develop their career while working with a variety of organisations and with support from an active professional community. A competency framework enables fair and consistent assessment of capability and recruitment.
- Project organisations reward and recognise the contributions made by Sponsors. The profession promotes its members and communicates successes.
The Network meets several times a year, either virtually or physically, to listen to and learn from the stories of sponsors and work together to build shared capability.
Sponsorship resources
It has long been recognised that an effective sponsor is critical to project success and at the same time it is one of the most misunderstood roles in projects. A quick scan of case studies will reveal a myriad of models ranging from the sponsor as an organisation, a function, a job or a role assigned to someone on the project.
A study commissioned by the Major Projects Association further reveals that there is little guidance and few development frameworks for project sponsors, and where there is guidance it is indirect (written for the project manager in terms of what to expect from the sponsor) and inconsistent.
The Major Projects Association (MPA), the Association for Project Management (APM) and the Project Management Institute (PMI) have teamed up to address this issue through a joint initiative to develop foundational resources for project sponsorship with an initial focus on the core activities carried out. Further work will then explore examples and guidance for applying the sponsorship function in different contexts and developing skills and capabilities.
Common resources will enable professional bodies, employers and individuals to invest in developing sponsorship competency and capability.
“The Major Projects Association is proud to be part of this joint initiative and look forward to working with colleagues from the APM and PMI to develop this common model. It will provide a foundation to help us all unlock the value from effective project sponsorship.”
– Andy Murray, Executive Director, Major Projects Association“At the Association for Project Management (APM), we are committed to clarifying and developing the role of project sponsors. Through our collaboration with the Major Projects Association (MPA) and the Project Management Institute (PMI), we aim to establish a universally recognised model of sponsorship. This joint effort will not only rationalise sponsor effectiveness across various sectors but also elevate project success rates by advancing a deeper understanding of this crucial role. We are excited to contribute to this initiative.”
–James White, Head of Nuclear at MIGSO-PCUBED, Board Trustee for the Association for Project Management“As Project Management Institute (PMI), we are delighted to contribute to this collaborative endeavour and eagerly anticipate forging robust partnerships with the Major Project Association and APM. Together, we will craft a unified model for the pivotal role of project sponsor, reflecting our shared commitment to excellence.”
–Estelle Detrembleur, Director Digital and Special Events
To register your interest in joining the Project Sponsors Network , please email Ellie Gregory via mpa@majorprojects.org.
Latest Resources
Sponsorship Decoded: Building strong foundations
The Major Project Sponsorship Model
Sponsorship Network: vision for the project profession