5 Tips for Effective Executive Sponsorship

This blog is to review the article “5 Tips for Effective Executive Sponsorship” and discuss, analyze the concepts and ideas in this article.

This article initially introduced a new point, utilizing project management as a tool for initiating organizational change. In general, project management refers to the use of knowledge, skills, and resources to complete a project and meet the intended results, usually a financial goal. However, the ever-changing business environment requires managers to not only successfully complete various projects but also to constantly implement effective organizational changes to adapt to the complex and competitive business world. In this context, managers have evolved to incorporate organizational changes into projects and view them as a tool, not just a task. As such, the author pointed out that managers should use appropriate leadership styles under different circumstances and improve group culture while executing these projects.

Indeed, among all the failed regular projects, either the work conducted by a team or the work failed to be completed by the team results in the failure. In short, the failure is closely related to the human element. Thus, for projects that bear the goal of transforming an organization, it is very important to emphasize the effectiveness of leadership styles in project management, rather than just focusing on the completion of the project or the financial goal. A manager’s micromanagement of employees will reduce employee work incentive and performance in projects. Another principle is to reduce employee resistance, which requires managers to act as a role model and effectively communicate the purpose and benefit to employees. As such, managers should respect the requirements of the project and inform employees any effect that the projects may cause to every employee, for the purpose of facilitating their understanding of the project and gaining their support.

Another point made by the author is that a manager is not just a supervisor of the project; he or she is also an important participant. The author argued that the manager should be punctual to any meeting and follow up with a project until it is closed, instead of being active in the beginning and then weakening interest or control once it is on track.

This is true with many project management cases. In fact, top managers play an important role in this process. They set priorities and ensure that the project is on the right track. For instance, sometimes project goals are not maintained consistently with the overall organizational vision and strategy, because some workers have their own priorities that are not parallel with the organization’s desired goals or they simply resist to management practices. In this case, what measures can be taken to ensure that the objectives can be met?

 

Article Source:http://www.projecttimes.com/articles/5-tips-for-effective-executive-sponsorship.html

Works Cited

Kerzner, Harold R. Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. John Wiley & Sons, 2013. Print.

Kloppenborg, Timothy. Contemporary Project Management. Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Meredith, Jack R., Samuel J. Mantel Jr. Project Management: A Managerial Approach. John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print.