X Company, a private security firm, has signed a contract to fund the design, construction and running of a local police station. This arrangement is a public private partnership agreement whereby the local police authority will pay X Company revenue to run the support services of the local police station.

Distinguish between the role of the project owner and project sponsor, with reference to X Company's project.  

Project Owner

The project owner in the X Company project is the organisation for which the project is being carried out, in this case the local police authority. It is interested in the end result being achieved. The police authority has made a statement regarding 'greater savings' and 'improved effectiveness and efficiency' and these are the requirements that must be met.

Project Sponsor

The project board is effectively also acting as the project sponsor. It will be make sure that the project is successful at the business level. The person who chairs the project board will usually take overall responsibility for the successful delivery of the business requirements.