What you need to do

Appoint Senior Responsible Owner (SRO, the senior manager who will take personal responsibility for the success of the project as its owner). Appoint a programme director or project manager as appropriate. For construction projects, appoint a Project Sponsor to manage the project on a day-to-day basis for the SRO. If required, appoint a Client Adviser (a construction professional) to assist non-technical Project Sponsors. Check that these key project personnel will be available when required and have the capability to do the job.

Points to consider

The SRO must have the authority to make things happen and a personal commitment to the project; they must be able to commit appropriate time to be involved in the project and to be available to take prompt decisions if required. For smaller projects, the role of SRO and project sponsor may be combined.

The project manager must have skills and experience as appropriate to the project; a major cause of failure is where the wrong person is appointed to the role.