Project Team Roles and Responsibilities Explained
Last Updated November 5, 2014
Successful projects are usually the result of careful planning and the talent and collaboration of a project team. Projects can’t move forward without each of its key team members, but it’s not always clear who those members are, or what roles they play. Here, we’ll explain five project team roles – project manager, project team member, project sponsor, executive sponsor and business analyst – and describe each of their responsibilities.
Project Manager
The project manager is primarily responsible for the successful completion of a project. The project manager’s role is to ensure that the project proceeds within the specified time frame and under the established budget while achieving its objectives. Project managers make sure that projects are given sufficient resources while managing relationships with contributors and stakeholders.
Project Manager Responsibilities
Project manager responsibilities may include:
- Developing a project plan
- Managing deliverables according to the plan
- Recruiting project staff
- Leading and managing the project team
- Determining the methodology used on the project
- Establishing a project schedule and determining each phase
- Assigning tasks to project team members
- Communicating with upper management
Project Team Member
Project team members are the individuals who actively work on one or more phases of the project. They may be in-house staff or external consultants, working on the project on a full-time or part-time basis. Project team member roles can vary according to each project.
Project Team Member Responsibilities
Project team member responsibilities often include:
- Contributing to overall project objectives
- Completing individual deliverables
- Providing expertise
- Working with users to establish and meet business needs
- Documenting the process
Project Sponsor
The project sponsor is the driver and in-house champion of the project. They are typically members of senior management and have a stake in the project’s outcome. Project sponsors work closely with the project manager. They legitimize the project’s objectives and participate in high-level project planning. They also often help resolve conflicts and remove obstacles that occur throughout the project life cycle and sign off on approvals needed to advance each project phase.
Project Sponsor Responsibilities
The project sponsor’s responsibilities usually include:
- Making key business decisions for the project
- Approving the project budget
- Ensuring availability of resources
- Communicating the project’s goals throughout the organization
Executive Sponsor
The executive sponsor is ideally a high-ranking member of management. He or she is the visible champion of the project with the management team and is the ultimate decision-maker, with final approval on all phases, deliverables and project scope changes.
Executive Sponsor Responsibilities
The executive sponsor is typically responsible for:
- Approving all changes to the project scope
- Providing additional funds for scope changes
- Approving project deliverables
- Carrying ultimate responsibility for the project
Business Analyst
The business analyst defines a business’s needs and recommends solutions to make the organization better. When participating on a project team, they ensure that the project’s objectives solve existing business problems or enhance performance, and add value to the organization. They can also help maximize the value of the project deliverables.
Business Analyst Responsibilities
On a project team, the business analyst’s responsibilities include:
- Assisting in defining the project
- Gathering requirements from business units or users
- Documenting technical and business requirements
- Verifying that project deliverables meet the requirements
- Testing solutions to validate objectives
Learn How to Manage a Project Team
Assembling and managing a project team is an essential component of project management. Just as a successful project usually takes careful planning and preparation, so does a successful project management career. Today’s competitive business environment means that employers may look for project managers with proven skills – and they may seek out candidates with credentials such as the industry-respected Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute.
Villanova University offers a Certificate in Applied Project Management online, so project management professionals can gain in-demand skills and prepare for the PMP® certification. When you’re planning your project management education, consider Villanova’s convenient and highly regarded certificate program, available 100% online.
