Steer project

Purpose

Throughout the project, the project is monitored on the basis of reporting and, as needed, other information, and the achievement of the set objectives is ensured through adequate risk management and timely decision-making.

Basic idea

The project sponsor steers the project and is responsible for the project's success. The project sponsor is supported in this task by the other project steering roles. If it becomes apparent that the project's success cannot be achieved, the project sponsor terminates the project with a decision on project discontinuation.

To ensure the project's success, the project sponsor regularly monitors the progress of the project on the basis of the reports prepared by project management.

The project sponsor can commission overarching risk management of the project. To this end, the project sponsor appoints an independent body that reports directly to the sponsor. The independent body carries out risk management from a management perspective and decides on measures.

In the interest of efficient project execution, the project sponsor ensures rapid decision-making. The project sponsor plans and steers the decision-making processes in cooperation with the project manager and, if necessary, with other parties. The project sponsor includes the decision-makers in the project.

The project sponsor regulates and monitors reporting, which ensures formal standardized information between project management, project steering, and other bodies.

Problems that cannot be solved by the project management are escalated to project steering. Project steering treats these problems with the necessary priority and urgency.

HERMES-specific

The project sponsor defines the reporting requirements and checks progress based on the project management plan and the project status report of the project manager.

The project sponsor decides on significant measures and related adjustments to the project management plan, change requests, and risk-minimizing measures.

Basis/prerequisites

Activities

  1. Check progress.
    1. Request project management plan and project status report.
    2. Carry out target/actual comparisons, assess forecasts, analyze deviations, and identify the need for action.
    3. Take measures.
  2. Risk management
    1. Add further risks identified to the project and business risks in the project status report.
    2. Analyze risks.
    3. Decide on measures.
    4. Check the implementation of measures and their impact.
    5. Arrange for independent controlling, QA/risk management and/or project reviews and project audits to be carried out.
  3. Decisions
    1. Plan and steer decision-making processes.
    2. Make, communicate, and enforce project decisions.
    3. Integrate stakeholders.
    4. Make change request decisions.
    5. Handle escalation.

Outcomes

Relationships