Shell Method™ Software Engineering Process Repository
The executive sponsor provides top-level authorization and funding for a project and bears ultimate responsibility for the success of the development effort. Generally, the sponsor is not a software development practitioner, but is a manager associated with or supervising the activities of the business process under automation.
The sponsor provides funding and authorizes the work of the project. The sponsor is responsible for monitoring project progress, risks, and adherence to schedule, primarily through participation in Configuration Control Board (CCB) meetings and stage exit meetings.
The sponsor is required to have a high-level understanding of the SDLC for this project. This is accomplished at the beginning of the project via:
A Lifecycle Overview presentation from the PDR.
An optional review of the SDLC document.
The sponsor is considered to be qualified after receiving the Lifecycle Overview presentation from the PDR, either separately or during the informal iteration process of the project planning stage. An email confirmation serves as objective evidence of qualification for the Project Executive Sponsor.