The project manager and sponsor are the ultimate power couple: ;ey’re stronger together than apart. Sponsors and project managers are liaisons
between two groups, says David West, senior technical director, WSP, London, England, who has worked as both a project
manager and project sponsor. “;e sponsor represents the
interests of the organization and all the stakeholders, while the
project manager speaks for the project team,” Mr. West says.
In other words, the sponsor and project manager hold the
project family together. Not only do the two partners bene;t
when they work well together—so does the project. According
to PMI’s Pulse of the Profession® research, having active sponsors—meaning executives who are engaged and who champion the strategic value of projects and communicate bene;ts
to stakeholders—is the top driver of project success.
BY RACHEL BERTSCHE
PORTRAITS BY JON ENOCH
to stronger
relationships between
project managers
and sponsors
teps
