Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
interested or have the skills to take over sponsorship in the future. If you
are the business sponsor, begin to groom your own replacement. That way,
you can move onward and upward when the opportunity arises without
jeopardizing all you have worked for.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS SPONSOR JOB DESCRIPTION
The executive business sponsor will:
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Serve as the primary contact for other senior staff members to understand
data warehousing and its strategic value to the organization
■
Understand how the data warehouse will support business
decision-making
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Review summarized project deliverables
■
Assist with the resolution of major issues
■
Ensure that the appropriate business staff members are allocated to the
project
■
Remove major roadblocks on behalf of the project team
■
Have a broad perspective of functions and groups across the enterprise
Be authorized to make decisions that resolve issues and set direction
The executive business sponsor is not be expected to attend weekly project
status meetings or review detailed project plans.
Desired characteristics of the executive business sponsor:
■
■
Be well respected in the organization
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Be a creative problem solver
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Have a track record of success
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Be well-connected politically
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Work in the business area that the data warehouse will support
■
Be a visionary
NOTE
It is common for senior managers to ask external consultants for their
opinion about how a project is progressing or how the organization is doing with
data warehousing. Business executives routinely ask external consultants, ''Is
there anything else you need? Are my people doing what they are supposed to be
doing?'' While it is interesting to get an independent perspective, why not do the
same with internal staff? Walk through the area where the project team sits to see
what is going on. Just have casual conversations about what is on their mind—ask
them what else they need to keep the project moving.
