The Project Management Team Works With Sponsor and Product Manager
PMBOK v8 Definition
The project management team usually works with the project sponsor, customer, product manager, or product owner to address internal political and strategic issues that may impact the team or the viability or quality of the project or product. The project management team performs various functions such as facilitating and mentoring the project team and managing the processes to deliver intended outcomes. This team is essential for guiding the assigned team to achieve goals and deliver value to the organization and customers while considering flexibility, adaptability, and tailoring.
Why It Matters for the Exam
This concept appears frequently in PMI exam questions about stakeholder engagement, team leadership, and the project manager's role in navigating organizational politics. Questions often test your understanding of who the project management team collaborates with and for what purpose, particularly in scenario-based questions about addressing political or strategic issues that threaten project viability.
Key Points to Remember (for the exam)
- Primary Collaborators: Project sponsor, customer, product manager, or product owner
- Purpose of Collaboration: Address internal political and strategic issues
- Impact Areas: Team performance, project viability, product quality
- Team Composition: May consist solely of a project manager or include more individuals
- Alternative Titles: "Project leader," "project lead," or functional manager in some organizations
- Adaptive Environments: Product owner or product manager may handle some project management tasks
- Required Skills Mix: Ways of working, power skills, and business acumen
Typical PMI Exam Example
Situation: A project management team discovers that a key stakeholder in the finance department is blocking critical resources due to internal political conflicts. The project manager must address this issue. According to PMBOK v8, who should the project management team work with to resolve this? Answer: The project sponsor, customer, product manager, or product owner.
PMI Exam Traps
- Trap: Confusing "project management team" with "project team" → Reality: The project management team guides and leads; the project team executes work
- Trap: Thinking only the project manager handles political issues → Reality: The entire project management team works with sponsors and product managers to address these issues
- Trap: Assuming the project manager always has the title "project manager" → Reality: Functional managers or "project leads" may perform project management responsibilities
- Trap: Believing adaptive approaches eliminate the project management function → Reality: Product owners or product managers handle some project management tasks in adaptive environments
Important PMI Connections
| Related Concept | Relationship Type | Exam Attention Point |
|---|---|---|
| Project Sponsor | Collaborator for strategic issues | Sponsor provides authority and resources to address political challenges |
| Product Manager / Product Owner | Collaborator for product viability | In adaptive approaches, these roles handle some PM tasks |
| Organizational Change Management | Factor influencing team performance | Internal politics often require change management approaches |
| Stakeholder Engagement | Complementary function | Political issues are addressed through stakeholder engagement strategies |
Quick Review Questions
- With which roles does the project management team typically work to address internal political and strategic issues?
- What are the three skill categories the project management team needs according to PMBOK v8?
- In adaptive development approaches, which role may handle some project management tasks?
- Can a functional manager (e.g., finance or HR manager) perform project management responsibilities?
- What factors influence the assignment of project management responsibilities in an organization?
PMBOK v8 Reference
Section 2.4.2 – The Project Management Team (The Standard for Project Management, PMBOK v8)