steering committee
A group of senior stakeholders that advises the portfolio, program, or project team, sets direction and support, and makes decisions that lie beyond the authority of the team.
Key Points
- Comprised of senior leaders and key stakeholders with organizational authority.
- Provides strategic guidance and ensures alignment with business objectives.
- Serves as the escalation path for decisions outside the project team's authority.
- Reviews progress, removes major blockers, and approves high-impact changes or funding.
Example
During a program increment, a critical dependency requires an unplanned vendor contract and additional budget. The project manager escalates to the steering committee, which evaluates the business case, reorders priorities, approves the funding increase, and directs cross-department support to mitigate schedule risk.
PMP Example Question
Which action best represents the role of a steering committee on a strategic project?
- Facilitating daily stand-ups and removing team-level impediments
- Approving a scope change that exceeds the project manager's authority and reallocating funding
- Creating user stories and defining acceptance criteria for each sprint
- Performing detailed task estimation for the project backlog
Correct Answer: B — Approving major changes and reallocating funding
Explanation: The steering committee provides strategic direction and makes decisions beyond the team's authority, including approving significant scope, budget, or priority changes.
