Project Team Roles
Successful projects are first and foremost a result of a team! They usually include careful planning and the talent and collaboration of a project’s team members. 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.
- Is an organized group of people who are involved in performing shared/individual tasks focused on achieving shared/individual goals and objectives for the
purpose of accomplishing the project and producing its results - Consists of the full-time and part-time personnel to collaboratively work on producing the deliverables and moving the project towards successful completion
The project manager’s job 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 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. Team member roles can vary according to each project.
The project sponsor is the driver and in-house champion of the project. They are typically members of senior management – those with a stake in the project’s outcome. Project sponsors legitimize the project’s objectives. They often help resolve conflicts and remove obstacles that occur throughout the project.
The Project Steering Committee is ideally comprised of high-ranking members of management. They are the visible champions of the project with the University and project governance and are the ultimate decision-makers, with final approval on all phases, deliverables and scope changes.
The project functional team leader serves as a working, active member of the team, with specific functional knowledge in the area required by the project. They ensure that new systems and applications meet functional expectations, compliance, and specifications.
The project technical team lead serves as a working, active member of the team, with specific technical knowledge in the area required by the project. They ensure that new systems and applications meet technical expectations, compliance, and specifications.
The business analyst defines needs and recommends solutions to make an organization better. When part of a project team, they ensure that the project’s objectives solve existing problems or enhance performance, and add value to the organization. They can also help maximize the value of the project deliverables.
The Change Manager facilitates the transition of individuals, teams, and organizations from an existing, current state to the new, desired future state. It involves a process and set of techniques to manage the feelings, perceptions, and reactions of the people affected by the change being introduced.
A Project Stakeholder is any individual or group, internal and external to the project, affected by the outcome of the Project.