Should a Project Manager Justify a Project?

Q: My sponsor asked me to prepare the justification for a project. Is that appropriate or should my sponsor do this work?

A: The Project Management Institute (PMI) holds the sponsor responsible for project justification. However, sponsors can delegate project-related responsibilities to the project manager. So a PM justifying a project is appropriate as long as the sponsor provides appropriate support. In that case, you should consider the request a compliment regarding your PM skills and trust in your abilities.