The Invisible Sponsor Case Study Discussion Read the attached case study titled, “The Invisible Sponsor”. Please comment on the 6 questions posed. THE INVI

The Invisible Sponsor Case Study Discussion Read the attached case study titled, “The Invisible Sponsor”. Please comment on the 6 questions posed. THE INVISIBLE SPONSOR1
Background
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.
Assigning the VP
Moreland Company was well-respected as a tooling design-and-build company. Moreland was projectdriven because all of its income camefrom 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 medium-sized 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’s Dilemma
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 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 email. 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?

Purchase answer to see full
attachment