Read the case study “The Invisible Sponsor” on page 658 and then pick one (1) of the following sets of three (3) questions to answer on page 660:
Set 1 – questions 1-3
Set 2 – question 4-6
THE INVISIBLE SPONSOR1
Some executives prefer to micromanage projects whereas other executives
are fearful of making a decision because, if they were to make the wrong
decision, it could impact their career. In this case study, the president of the company assigned
one of the vice presidents to act as the project sponsor on a project designed to build tooling
for a client. The sponsor, however, was reluctant to make any decisions.
Moreland Company was well-respected as a tooling design-and-build
company. Moreland was project-driven because all of its income came
from projects. Moreland was also reasonably mature in project management.
When the previous VP for engineering retired, Moreland hired an executive from a manufacturing
company to replace him. The new VP for engineering, Al Zink, had excellent engineering
knowledge about tooling but had worked for companies that were not project-driven.
Al had very little knowledge about project management and had never functioned as a project
sponsor. Because of Al’s lack of experience as a sponsor, the president decided that Al should
“get his feet wet” as quickly as possible and assigned him as the project sponsor on a mediumsized
project. The project manager on this project was Fred Cutler. Fred was an engineer with
more than twenty years of experience in tooling design and manufacturing. Fred reported
directly to Al Zink administratively.
Fred understood the situation; he would have to train Al Zink on how to
function as a project sponsor. This was a new experience for Fred because
subordinates usually do not train senior personnel on how to do their job. Would Al Zink be
receptive?
Fred explained the role of the sponsor and how there are certain project documents that
require the signatures of both the project manager and the project sponsor. Everything seemed
Background
Assigning the VP
Fred’s Dilemma
to be going well until Fred informed Al that the project sponsor is the person that the president
eventually holds accountable for the success or failure of the project. Fred could tell that Al was
quite upset over this statement.
Al realized that the failure of a project where he was the sponsor could damage his reputation
and career. Al was now uncomfortable about having to act as a sponsor but knew that he
might eventually be assigned as a sponsor on other projects. Al also knew that this project was
somewhat of a high risk. If Al could function as an invisible sponsor, he could avoid making
any critical decisions.
In the first meeting between Fred and Al where Al was the sponsor, Al asked Fred for a
copy of the schedule for the project. Fred responded:
I’m working on the schedule right now. I cannot finish the schedule until you tell me
whether you want me to lay out the schedule based upon best time, least cost, or least risk.
Al stated that he would think about it and get back to Fred as soon as possible.
During the middle of the next week, Fred and Al met in the company’s cafeteria. Al asked
Fred again, “How is the schedule coming along?” and Fred responded as before:
I cannot finish the schedule until you tell me whether you want me to lay out the schedule
based upon best time, least cost, or least risk.
Al was furious, turned around, and walked away from Fred. Fred was now getting nervous
about how upset Al was and began worrying if Al might remove him as the project manager.
But Fred decided to hold his ground and get Al to make a decision.
At the weekly sponsor meeting between Fred and Al, once again Al asked the same question,
and once again Fred gave the same response as before. Al now became quite angry and
yelled out:
Just give me a least time schedule.
Fred had gotten Al to make his first decision. Fred finalized his schedule and had it on Al’s
desk two days later awaiting Al’s signature. Once again, Al procrastinated and refused to sign
off on the schedule. Al believed that, if he delayed making the decision, Fred would take the
initiative and begin working on the schedule without Al’s signature.
Fred kept sending e-mails to Al asking when he intended to sign off on the schedule or, if
something was not correct, what changes needed to be made. As expected, Al did not respond.
Fred then decided that he had to pressure Al one way or another into making timely decisions
as the project sponsor. Fred then sent an e-mail to Al that stated:
I sent you the project schedule last week. If the schedule is not signed by this Friday, there
could be an impact on the end date of the project. If I do not hear from you, one way or
another, by this Friday, I will assume you approve the schedule and I can begin implementation.
The president’s e-mail address was also included in the CC location on the e-mail. The
next morning, Fred found the schedule on his desk, signed by Al Zink.
QUESTIONS
1. Why do some executives refuse to function as project sponsors?
2. Can an executive be “forced” to function as a sponsor?
3. Is it right for the sponsor to be the ultimate person responsible for the success
or failure of the project?
4. Were Al Zink’s actions that of someone trying to be an invisible sponsor?
5. Did Fred Cutler act appropriately in trying to get Al Zink to act as a sponsor?
6. What is your best guess as to what happened to the working relationship
between Al Zink and Fred Cutler?