ABSTRACT

An underlying principle of business portfolio, programme and project management is ‘single point accountability’. Most people associate the term ‘sponsor’ with directing a project, but the term can also be applied to programmes and business portfolios. A sponsor is fundamentally accountable for ensuring ‘why’ the organization is spending time and resources on particular piece of work. The more mature an organization is in working across the organization in programmes and projects, the easier it will be to exercise our role as a sponsor. Rank and organization hierarchy are secondary to placing the right people in the role, no matter what level. Real strategic projects are concerned with ensuring the longer-term sustainability of the organization. Some organizations undergo an almost continuous stream of reorganization which can lead to a sponsor leaving the company or being deployed elsewhere.