The person who commissions others to deliver the project and champions the cause throughout the project. They will normally be a senior member of staff with a relevant area of responsibility that will be affected by the outcome of the project. They are involved from the start of the project, including defining the project in conjunction with the Project Manager. Once the project has been launched they should ensure that it is actively reviewed. The Project Sponsor is usually the one who has to negotiate a path through the tricky diplomatic areas of the project although the Project Manager will most likely be involved in such areas from time to time too!