The project champion

As all project managers know, developing and implementing projects in organizations is an endeavor that is often difficult and time-consuming. As many also know, project champions can help project managers generate the organizational support and obtain the corporate resources they need to realize their projects. This article examines the role of the project champion. In doing so, it lists the four traits that all champions share, explains the role that champions play in relation to both project and organizational success, and details the four types of project champion: creative originator, entrepreneur, sponsor, and project manager. It then looks at a case study involving 51 project managers, a study which identifies the champion's project functions and personal abilities. It also outlines the differences between the traditional project activities performed by project managers and the non-traditional project activities performed by project champions. It describes four principles for developing project champio