Project Participants

Who are the participants in a project and what are their roles?

The participants involved in a project will, inevitably, vary according to the nature of the specific project, the business sector within which it is being undertaken, its size, objectives and so on. Nevertheless, each project, if it is to be successful, will have a number of roles that will need to be undertaken:

Project Sponsor:

(1) The individual or body for whom the project is being undertaken and who is the primary risk taker

(2) The individual representing the sponsoring body and to whom the project manager reports

Project Champion:

The person within the parent (client) organisation who promotes and defends a project

Interested Party:

(Formerly referred to as “Stakeholder”) A person, group of people or organisation who have a vested interest in the environment, performance and/or outcome of the project

User (or end-user):

Those intended to benefit from the project

Project Manager:

The individual with the authority, accountability and responsibility for managing a project to achieve specific objectives

Business Change Manager:

The individual responsible for benefits management from identification through to realisation

Functional Manager:

The individual responsible for the business and technical management of a functional group

Client:

The party (to a contract) who commissions the work and pays for it on completion

Customer:

Any person who defines needs or wants; justifies or pays for part or the entire project, or evaluates or uses the results. Could be the project promoter, client, owner or employer

Contractor:

A person, company or firm who holds a contract for carrying out the works (or part of the works) and/or the supply of goods or services in connection with the project

Project Board:

The body to which the project manager is accountable. The Board is responsible for the success of the project and has the authority to direct it. Further, it is responsible for communication between the project team and interested parties

Project Steering Group:

A consultative forum through which interested parties are kept informed about, and may contribute to, the delivery of the project

Project Team:

The individuals, groups and/or organisations that are responsible to the project manager for undertaking project tasks (includes all contractors and consultants)

Note 1:   The term ‘Interested Party’ is used here, instead of ‘Stakeholder’ because the most recent versions of ISO Management Standards now use interested parties in preference to stakeholders

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