The closure stage of a project involves identifying and capturing lessons learned and realizing the capabilities and benefits gained during the project. Effective sponsorship is crucial for this stage, as it requires active engagement from the sponsor to ensure that project outcomes are documented and future learning can be applied to other projects. In the provided case study, the lack of sponsor involvement led to a failed software development project, which highlights the importance of sponsors setting goals, planning correctly, improving communication, and identifying lessons learned. Overall, the article emphasizes the need for project sponsors to stay actively involved throughout the entire project management process to ensure successful outcomes.