Elaborations on the role of project owner: introducing project owners type 1 and 2
International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
ISSN: 1753-8378
Article publication date: 20 April 2018
Issue publication date: 17 May 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study how the project owner role is described in the literature, and how the role is carried out in practice. In particular, the author studies the project owner role in relation to project execution and benefit realization.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review, the author proposes a model for the relationships between the project owner, project manager and the operation of project delivery. The author then uses the model to describe the empirical results derived from a mapping of project owner responsibilities in a set of Norwegian information technology projects.
Findings
The author defines a project owner type 1 as a project owner that is focused on the business case and has responsibility for both project delivery and benefit realization. This project owner is the type described in most of the literature. The author further defines a project owner type 2 as a project owner that is mainly concerned with supporting the project manager and enabling project delivery. This is the type of project owner found in the empirical study.
Research limitations/implications
The author identified a mismatch between the project management literature and observed practice.
Practical implications
There is a need to clarify the type of project owner role referred to in different contexts. Different project owners will have a different set of incentives and priorities. It is important to make sure that both investment costs and benefits (i.e., the complete business case), are seen in close relation to each other and not as separate undertakings.
Originality/value
There is a need for a distinction between two types of project owners. This study proposes a framework for the description, analysis and implementation of project governance, with a special focus on the project owner role.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author thanks the Concept program for support and constructive feedback on previous versions of parts of this text. The author also thanks the reviewers for valuable comments on the paper. The author wants to thank Gørild Berg-Johansen for constructive co-operation.
Citation
Olsson, N.O.E. (2018), "Elaborations on the role of project owner: introducing project owners type 1 and 2", International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 827-844. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-08-2017-0102
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited