What is the biggest contributor to project success but can also be the biggest obstacle to change?  The project sponsor.  In Prosci’s 7 benchmarking studies spanning from 1998 to 2011, active and visible sponsorship has been the #1 contributor to project success every year.  Both in 2009 and 2011, ineffective sponsorship was the biggest obstacle to change.  But of all the things projects focus on (scope, schedule, cost), sponsors are rarely given standards that they are measured against during the project.

When done well, project sponsors are the face of their project.  More than just allocating funding, they are constantly on the road keeping their project in front of their peers and stakeholders.  But more often than not, sponsors relegate themselves to project board meetings and occasional appearances at project milestone events.