Project Sponsorship: An Essential Guide for Those Sponsoring Projects Within Their Organizations

The role of project sponsor is critical in large projects during the development of the business case, for governance and assurance and as the person who decides that the project should continue or close at any stage. Yet in many organizations the skills of the sponsor are often assumed; he or she will be a senior manager who may well have no practical project experience at all. David West explains the roles and skills that lie at the heart of effective sponsorship. The sponsor acts as a lynch-pin between the Board and the Project Manager, communicating and translating requirements downwards and resource needs, progress and constraints back upwards. An over-zealous sponsor may be tempted to assume some of the project manager's responsibilities, whilst an ineffective sponsor may be invisible, leaving the project manager uninformed by, and unrepresented to, the Board. Project Sponsorship includes exercises, examples and case histories from the real world of projects. It is an essential guide for anyone assuming the important role of managing the business case of the project and will help you ensure that the organization is 'doing the right things' as well as 'doing things right'.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; Part 1 The Nature of Project Sponsorship and Sponsors: The value of project sponsorship to the organization; Factors in the selection of the project sponsor. Part 2 Core Project Sponsor Duties and Skills: Governance, reporting and management structures for the sponsorship of projects; Health, safety and environment; Where projects come from - corporate strategy; The project business case - will the project be worth it?; Defining the project; The players: selecting and leading the team; Project finance; Project commissioning and close out. Part 3 Understanding Project Management: The project team; Project planning; Progress reporting; Value engineering; Risk management; Quality management; Commercial management; Change control; Stakeholder management; Index.

About the Author :
David West is Senior Technical Director and Head of Risk Management, WSP UK. He has 29 years experience of projects in the power, petro-chemical, building, leisure, health, defence, rail, and development sectors. During his career, David's roles across the project spectrum have included: designer, design manager, site manager, construction manager, project manager, project sponsor, risk manager, business unit manager and developer. He has also been an Associate Lecturer with the Open University teaching Finance and Marketing on the MBA programme.

Review :
'The writing is in a good, readable style. The author comes across as personable and knowledgeable in his subject. The book should be easy to dip into, and is likely to be a handy reference source.' - Graham Dalton, CEO, Highways Agency, London '...Having read it I can confirm that indeed the book is comprehensive, the contents cover a wide remit, and there is a section on every activity seemingly relevant to the Sponsor...As a practising risk manager and a former project manager, the book is written in an accessible manner and is even handed in its emphasis on the very important areas for the Sponsor to focus...' Mike Walker, Principal, RedAmber Consulting 'Having previously had the pleasure of working with David on some very challenging projects, I was delighted to be asked to review his book...David's text meets a real need. Effective project sponsorship is an essential discipline for all but the simplest projects, and can be the difference between a success and a high profile and expensive disaster. Sponsors...must be both the guardians and translators of the interest of investors and funders. Through cogent analysis; reference to apposite examples; and a well structured explanation of practical techniques David has provided an excellent guide to the realities of effective project sponsorship. Reviewing this text has provided me with a valuable opportunity to reflect on best practice and how to apply it. I have no hesitation in recommending it to others.' - Bill Reeve, Director, Rail Delivery at Transport Scotland