Your company has assigned one of its vice presidents to function as your project sponsor. Unfortunately, your sponsor refuses to make any critical decisions, always "passing the buck" back to you.

a. What should you do?

b. What are your alternatives and the pros and cons of each?

c. Why might an executive sponsor act in this manner?

Answer: (a) : I will challenge my sponsor.

(c). The sponsor might have little knowledge about the project.

Explanation:

(a). Challenging sponsors: as a project manager, i am to continuosly challenge my sponsor.

(b). Challenging the sponsor can lead to disagreement and face off but this will make the sponsor to understand that he has a role to play, and he should not ' mess up ' the project.

My second alternative is to report this to the executive steering committee for resolution. This will make the resolution to be resolved quickly although it might cause serious harm to the company.

(c). The supervisor might not have enough technical knowledge about the project

OR

He might be occupied with other activity and may not be devoted to sponsorship

OR

Some company may want sponsors who have no knowledge about the project.