Difference between Project Manager and Project Sponsor

The roles of project sponsors and project managers can be found in a variety of industries. They have different responsibilities which they have to handle to complete the project within the schedule and budget. Here is the article where we will discuss the difference between project sponsor and project manager.

What is a Project Manager?

A project manager is a role where the individual handling the position has to take care of the whole project. He has to create a project plan, set a budget, schedule a timeline, and distribute tasks to the resources. The project managers have to manage a team and work with the members to complete the project under the set goals and budget.

Roles of a Project Manager

The roles of a project manager are as follows ?

• Project initiation
• Project planning
• Organizing the team
• Assigning roles
• Execution of the project

What is a Project Sponsor?

A project sponsor can be considered as a senior manager whose job is to provide resources needed for a project. He also provides leadership and consulting services which help in the timely completion of a project without any issues. A project sponsor is a connecting link between project managers and the executive team of the company.

Roles of a Project Sponsor

The roles of a project sponsor are as follows ?

• Initiation of the project
• Providing strategic direction
• Providing resources
• Directing the project
• Communication with stakeholders
• Tracking the progress of a project

Difference between Project Sponsor and Project Manager

The difference between project sponsor and project manager can be found in the table below ?

Conclusion

Project sponsors and project managers are two major roles in project management. Project managers are responsible for the planning and execution of a project. Project sponsors are the senior managers whose job is to provide resources who have to work on different modules of a project to complete it successfully. Project managers work only in the project scope while project sponsors have to make decisions to achieve project as well as organizational goals.

FAQs on Project Sponsor Vs. Project Manager

1. Which role is responsible to meet the project as well as the organizational goals?

Project sponsors are responsible to meet the project as well as organizational goals. They have to make strategies for a project and set the goals which should also be aligned with the goals of an organization.

2. Who provides resources to complete the project?

A project sponsor has the responsibility of providing resources which project managers have to guide to complete a project. Project managers are not responsible for providing resources but they have to explain the project plan to the resources and guide them during the project.

3. Who is the senior manager?

Project sponsors are the senior managers and project managers have to work under them. Project sponsors have to meet the organizational goals and they also have to let the project managers know about the project goals that have to be achieved by the resources.

4. What are the responsibilities of a project sponsor?

A project sponsor is responsible for setting goals for the project that are also aligned with the organizational goals. He has to provide resources to the project manager who has to assign them tasks and modules which have to be completed within time and budget.

5. What are the responsibilities of a project manager?

A project manager is responsible for making a project plan and setting the budget for the project. He also has to assign the tasks to the resources and guide them in completing these tasks.