Project Manager vs. Project Owner

Project manager vs project owner

Project owners have ownership over the project in the sense that they are accountable for the project’s success or failure. Project managers, on the other hand, work on streamlining the daily operations of the project.

A project owner creates the project vision, sets objectives, secures funding from a project sponsor, and acts as an ambassador for the project. They identify problems and solve them. Assembling the team, communicating, and keeping them motivated are all the responsibilities of a good project owner. 

Once the foundation for the project is laid and a team is in place, the project manager comes into play. Capacity planning, achieving product milestones, and reporting project progress to the project owner are duties a project manager performs.

It is not unusual for the project owner and project manager roles to be performed by the same person in small to mid-sized organizations. However, in a mature organization, each role is defined explicitly, with processes planned meticulously.

What are a project manager’s responsibilities?

A project manager’s primary responsibilities include:

• Project planning and scheduling
• Ensuring budget compliance 
• Escalating critical issues
• Stakeholder communication and updates
• Resource allocation
• Vendor management
• Risk analysis

What are a project owner’s responsibilities?

A project owner’s main duties include:

• Motivating the team
• Communicating the project’s value and seeking stakeholder buy-in
• Assisting the project manager in managing team performance
• Providing leadership in big-picture project activities
• Championing the project and seeking project sponsors
• Taking ownership of the project’s success or failure

These are a few significant project manager vs. project owner differences. While these are the standard roles in large companies, their responsibilities can vary and may overlap.