A project manager is a person who has the overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of a project. Construction, petrochemical, architecture, information technology and many different industries that produce products and services use this job title.
The project manager must have a combination of skills including an ability to ask penetrating questions, detect unstated assumptions and resolve conflicts, as well as more general management skills.
Key among a project manager's duties is the recognition that risk directly impacts the likelihood of success and that this risk must be both formally and informally measured throughout the lifetime of a project.
Risks arise from uncertainty, and the successful project manager is the one who focuses on this as their primary concern. Most of the issues that impact a project result in one way or another from risk. A good project manager can lessen risk significantly, often by adhering to a policy of open communication, ensuring every significant participant has an opportunity to express opinions and concerns.
A project manager is a person who is responsible for making decisions, both large and small. The project manager should make sure they control risk and minimise uncertainty. Every decision the project manager makes must directly benefit their project.
Project managers use project management software, such as Microsoft Project, to organise their tasks and workforce. These software packages allow project managers to produce reports and charts in a few minutes, compared with the several hours it can take if they do it by hand.
Roles and Responsibilities
The role of the project manager encompasses many activities including:
Planning and Defining Scope
Activity Planning and Sequencing
Resource Planning
Developing Schedules
Time Estimating
Cost Estimating
Developing a Budget
Documentation
Creating Charts and Schedules
Risk Analysis
Managing Risks and Issues
Monitoring and Reporting Progress
Team Leadership
Strategic Influencing
Business Partnering
Working with Vendors
Scalability, Interoperability and Portability Analysis
Controlling Quality
Benefits Realisation