I often have a discussion with others about the correct terminology that should be used in regards to a Project Owner vs a Project Sponsor.
Forgetting what we may have been taught I have always implemented: A Project Owner is the person etc that is responsible for the project A Project Sponsor is the provider of project finance
My reasoning is that in many cases the Owner and Sponsor are the same entity if the finance is coming out of the Owner's budget. In the case of when the finance is coming from another entities budget then you would have both a Project Owner and a Project Sponsor.
The word Sponsor or Sponsorship is predominately relating to money or financial support.
Owner or Ownership is about belonging to or control hence responsibility.
Even the dictionary relates Sponsor to one who provides financial support to an entity to achieve something.
We should really be using common sense when referring to project ownership (Responsible) and project sponsor (Financial) or when they are both the same then it is just called a Project Owner and NOT Project Sponsor.
