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.
FAQs
Overview of answers
As in, I would start my summarizing/sythensizing the project overall. Then I would talk about the specific responsibilities/roles had. I'd be structured and precise about waht I exactly did. Then, I would talk through the findings, the recommendation, and what was done in the end.
How do you answer roles and responsibilities in a project? ›
Overview of answers
As in, I would start my summarizing/sythensizing the project overall. Then I would talk about the specific responsibilities/roles had. I'd be structured and precise about waht I exactly did. Then, I would talk through the findings, the recommendation, and what was done in the end.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a project management team? ›
They plan it, develop a schedule, assemble a project team and manage their workload throughout the project's life cycle. Project managers are also responsible for managing risk and the budget. The project manager is the one who drives the project forward, but they're not working independently.
What are project roles and responsibilities? ›
A successful project requires the project team to participate (at some level) in the planning process, buy-in to the project plan, and be responsible for completion of assignments. It is important to have a defined formal structure for the project and for the project team.
What are team roles and responsibilities? ›
What are roles and responsibilities? Roles refer to one's position on a team. Responsibilities refer to the tasks and duties of their particular role or job description.
What are the 5 main roles in a project team? ›
Every project has different requirements, so team structure can vary. But the five major roles in a project team are project sponsor, project manager, business analyst, resource manager, and project team member.
Can you explain your roles and responsibilities? ›
A role describes what a person does within an organization that helps build trust among team members. A responsibility describes specific tasks a person is accountable for to achieve their team's goals. Role ambiguity creates confusion among team members and redundancies within an organization.
What are the 4 main roles in a project team? ›
This can be accomplished with some key team members:
- Project sponsor. Project team member roles and responsibilities wouldn't be complete without a project sponsor. ...
- Project leader. ...
- Project team members. ...
- Business analyst or resource manager. ...
- Committees.
What are examples of roles and responsibilities? Sales Manager: Role—Oversee and manage the sales team. Responsibilities—Develop sales strategies, set sales targets, train and mentor sales representatives, and monitor the team's performance. Software Engineer: Role—Develop and maintain software applications.
What are the three responsibilities of project team members? ›
Contributing to overall project objectives. Completing their work on time and within budget. Working with users to establish business needs. Providing expertise.
One of the factors that contributes to the success of any project is to have well defined roles of each member or group of the project team, in order to clearly set expectations and understand responsibilities.
Why is it important to define roles and responsibilities in project management? ›
Because team members can quickly identify the points of contact for various project areas, it also makes effective communication easier. Better project management is made possible by clearly defined roles and duties, which help leaders allocate resources sensibly and monitor progress more successfully.
What are the team roles in teams? ›
There are three roles to choose from: co-organizer, presenter, and attendee. Co-organizers and presenters share most organizer permissions, while attendees are more controlled. *People in presenter roles who are not signed in can't see or admit others from the lobby on Teams web and desktop.
How do you answer the position of responsibility? ›
What to look for:
- Identify what responsibilities are the same.
- Identify those that are indirectly related.
- Look for keywords that match, but make sure that the responsibility and description match in intent as well.
- Look for responsibilities that are unique to your current role that would add value to the role you want.
Be polite but firm: Assert your stance with politeness. Use 'I' statements to keep the focus on your responsibilities. Avoid blame and focus on solutions: “It seems like this task is best suited for someone with expertise in X area; let's find the right person to ensure it's handled properly.”
What is your roles and responsibilities in your project for developer? ›
Software developer duties and responsibilities include reviewing current systems, developing ideas for improving systems, working closely with data analysts, designers, and staff, writing program codes, testing the product before going live, preparing user training manuals, and maintaining systems once they start ...
