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Contact UsThe Most Important Factors For Success by Vijay AluwaliaIt's not surprising when asking project managers on what they considered to be the most important factor in ensuring process success that the following responses were frequently offered: Scope and requirements defined and agreed to Communication with stakeholders Availability of resources Risk analysis and mitigationSuccess is indeed very much dependent on such factors. I would like to offer one more factor that has far more critical impact: a senior sponsor who is engaged with the project.As I substantiate this, I will make the grandiose assumption that the project you are working on is of value to the company (i.e. supports the business goals) and that you are not trying to make progress on project 178 of the 281 projects in the pipeline.In the scenario where a project is in its infancy and initial analysis is underway, a senior sponsor taking center stage and communicating the importance of the initiative has huge importance. People get a feel of the significance of the project to the future of the company. Individuals get excited and motivated and seek ways of being part of the initiative.Over the next few months, cross functional resources are committed to the project and a steering committee is established. A dashboard report is published periodically to the senior management team. The project is well underway, and as the project manager, some sleepless nights follow. All of a sudden the dashboard report indicators turn from green to yellow to red. The project grinds to a screeching halt. Your dreams of promotion remain a distant dream and you wonder where it all went wrong.Having been part of such projects and in the drivers seat on some, I have taken the time to analyze factors that would have helped maximize success. It comes down to having an engaged senior sponsor. But you may say that a senior sponsor existed in the scenario above. Yes, but not an engaged senior sponsor.Having an engaged senior sponsor means all of the following: Removing barriers (beyond your sphere of influence) that impede success Making tough decisions (taking a stand on a course of action and saying no when needed) Challenging the teams thinking and approach (be it on progress, problem solving, risk management or other topics) Cracking heads when required (at those times when senior managers across the company decide to disengage be it ego, politics, frustration, or competing priorities. We have all seen this occur and have needed help)Aha, this looks familiar you say. These are some of the things that we do as project managers. That may well be true, but the senior sponsor helps you and the project along at that executive 50,000 foot level.With over 17 years of project consulting experience, Vijay Aluwalia is actively engaged with clients in a project and change management capacity, and focuses on coaching leadership and management teams.Printable VersionFeed

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