The Project Sponsor is the individual with overall accountability for the project business case and achieving the project benefits.

The key role of the Sponsor is to ensure that the Project Team has the support of other senior management and acts as a liaison between the team and senior management. Additionally the sponsor helps secure resources (including finance), clears the pathway and ensures the team is ‘hooked’ into the goals of the project.

The Sponsor will be available for the duration of the project, providing a clear escalation route.

Project Sponsor Responsibilities: 

• Ensuring on-going viability of the Project

• Ensuring that funds and other resources are made available as needed

• Ensuring the decision-making process for escalated project issues is effective and rapidly responding to escalated issues

• Ensure that a plan is in place to achieve the business benefits.

The Project Business Lead is the individual who provides the vision and direction for Project, leading the Project Team and communicating the change to all stakeholders impacted by the project. It is likely that the Business Lead will have responsibility for business as usual following completion of the project.

Buisness Lead Responsibilities: 

• Leads the team during the project, addressing any issues that might arise

• Ensures that the team focuses on the project goal and business benefits

• Promotes the change in a positive manner

• Identifies business benefits realised

• Supports the Project Manager in achieving their objectives and managing the change

The Project Manager is given the authority and responsibility to manage the project on a day-to-day basis to deliver the required products within the constraints agreed with the Project Board.

Project Manager Responsibilities:

• Support the Sponsor, Business Lead and the Project Team in the achievement of the Project goals

• Co-ordination of the creation of Project documentation

• Project planning and scheduling

• Monitor and report on progress with regularly Project Status reports (frequency as defined by the Project Board)

• Manage Project risks and issues

• Define and evaluate Project Change Control Requests

• Maintain Project Documentation including a Project risks and issues log

The Business Analyst is responsible for understanding and articulating the current business position and developing the requirements of the project and agreeing them via the project board. They will have significant input to the business case in describing the benefits that the project will deliver. They are key to the development of the solution in describing how the solution will deliver the business requirements.

Business Analyst Responsibilities:

• Gather and prioritise the requirements of the project.

• Understand the current project position through process mapping and other analytical tools.

• Work with the project manager to develop the business case.

• Articulate the business benefits of the project and describe how thy will be achieved.

• Help develop the solution and demonstrate how it will meet the business requirements.

The Business Change Manager is an optional role usually applicable to a larger project. The person is responsible for ensuring that the operational change is managed effectively. In smaller projects this role could be part of the Business lead or Project Manager role however in larger projects it is differentiated by having a greater operational focus.

Business Change Manager Responsibilities:

• Provide operational leadership, ensuring that those involved understand their role in delivering the change.

• Work with those involved in the project to ensure that plans are implemented to successfully deliver the skills required to deliver and embed the change.

• Understand and manage the impact of the change on key stakeholders including customers and suppliers.

• Responsible for the day to day implementation of the project.

• Ensures that communications are appropriately and effectively planned.

• Ensures that transition to business usual is effectively planned and implemented.