> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://collabase.ch/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# HERMES roles and project organization

> HERMES roles: project sponsor, project manager, user representative, partner groups user, developer and operator, hierarchy levels, and how to map roles in Collabase.

HERMES distinguishes the roles of the **core organization**, the organization of the project sponsor in which the project sits, from the roles of the **project organization**, a temporary organization that exists for the duration of the project. HERMES describes only the roles of the project organization.

## Three roles every project needs

| Role                    | Responsibility                                                                                 |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Project sponsor**     | Steers the project and holds overall responsibility for the project and for reaching its goals |
| **Project manager**     | Manages and coordinates the project and determines its course                                  |
| **User representative** | Is responsible for the solution from a business point of view, traditional and agile           |

These three roles must be filled from the user partner group. HERMES separates management competence from subject-matter competence: the project manager needs management skills, not domain knowledge, and can be recruited externally. The user representative holds the product responsibility.

## Partner groups

Every role belongs to one or more partner groups:

| Partner group | Role in the project                                                                                |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **User**      | Owns the project, defines the requirements, tests and accepts the solution                         |
| **Developer** | Develops or supplies and integrates the solution according to the specifications                   |
| **Operator**  | Integrates the solution into operation, sets up the operating organization and operates the system |

## Hierarchy levels and standard roles

| Level          | Standard roles                                                                                                                                 |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Steering**   | Project sponsor, project committee, quality and risk manager                                                                                   |
| **Management** | Technical committee, project manager, project support, sub-project manager                                                                     |
| **Execution**  | User representative, operations manager, business analyst, developer, execution organization, ISDP manager, IT architect, tester, test manager |

In the agile approach, the project manager leads the project but does not interfere with the self-organization of the execution organization. The user representative steers the development through the solution requirements and is the contact for the project manager.

## In Collabase

Map HERMES roles to groups and Space roles, so access follows the role and not the person.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create one group per role">
    In **Admin → Groups**, create groups such as `HERMES Project sponsor`, `HERMES Project management` and `HERMES User representatives`, and add the role holders. See [Groups](/docs/concepts/permissions#groups).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign Space roles to the groups">
    In **Space Settings → Members**, add each group with a Space role. For example: project management as **Manager**, the execution organization as **Member**, the project committee as **Viewer**. See [Space roles](/docs/concepts/permissions#space-roles).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set project roles">
    In **Project → Settings → Members**, make the project manager **Owner** of the project. See [Projects](/docs/projects/overview).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the approvers">
    Use the project sponsor as approver in the milestone automations. See [Milestones and decisions](/docs/hermes/milestones).
  </Step>
</Steps>