The Project Customer

Basically, one distinguishes between internal and external customers. External customers are mainly in customer projects: Here, the customer is referred to as the (external) “Client”, the company, in which the project runs, as a “contractor”.

• In the case of external projects the external Customer formulates the requirements to the project i. d. R. in a so-called specification, which consists of a compilation of the Principal services to be provided (specification and requirement specification).
• Internal Customer for each project essential: at Least one employee from the (Top)Management of your own company initiated the project and issued the project order. He sets out the main objectives and the financial resources for the project. In addition, he also takes control and control functions and represents the project interests at a higher level to the outside. In the case of deeper conflicts or basic project crises go, it represents an important place for arbitration, and supports the project Manager in all the unexpected problems on a larger scale.

In the case of very large and/or for the entire company, is very important for projects a Person is not sufficient as a Client: It is called a so-called project steering Committee (or Steering Committee), in which several decision-makers perceive each other as a body the role of the principal.

In the context of multi-project management there is generally a further body that can function at the corporate level as a Project commissioned by: The multi-project steering Committee. This Committee has a strategic function in that it decides on projects, with the help of the targeted strategic orientation of the entire company can be realized.

This Text comes from the book project management by Professor Dr. Franz Xaver Bea, Professor Dr. Steffen Scheurer, Sabine Hesselmann: 2., revised and expanded edition, 796 pages , ISBN 978-3-8252-2388-5

The book shows the “State of the Art” of project management and innovative impulses for the further development. New is the representation of a close relationship between project and Strategic Management. The three authors draw on up-to-date discussions: on topics such as project management Assessment, Critical Chain and Agile project management. Numerous examples as well as questions and answers will help students with the understanding of control and allow you a quick applicability. In addition, the title is also suitable for practitioners who want to update their knowledge on project management.