Project manager

A project manager is a professional in the field of project management. Project managers can have the responsibility of the planning, execution, and closing of any project, typically relating to construction industry, architecture, computer networking, telecommunications or software development.

Many other fields in the production, design and service industries also have project managers.

Overview

A project manager is the person accountable for accomplishing the stated project objectives. Key project management responsibilities include creating clear and attainable project objectives, building the project requirements, and managing the triple constraint for projects, which is cost, time, and scope.

A project manager is often a client representative and has to determine and implement the exact needs of the client, based on knowledge of the firm they are representing. The ability to adapt to the various internal procedures of the contracting party, and to form close links with the nominated representatives, is essential in ensuring that the key issues of cost, time, quality and above all, client satisfaction, can be realized.

Project manager topics

Project managemnt

Project Management is quite often the province and responsibility of an individual project manager. This individual seldom participates directly in the activities that produce the end result, but rather strives to maintain the progress and productive mutual interaction of various parties in such a way that overall risk of failure is reduced.

Products and services

Any type of product or service — pharmaceuticals, building construction, vehicles, electronics, computer software, financial services, etc. — may have its implementation overseen by a project manager and its operations by a product manager.

Project tools

The tools, knowledge and techniques for managing projects are often unique to Project Management. For example: work breakdown structures, critical path analysis and earned value management. Understanding and applying the tools and techniques which are generally recognized as good practices are not sufficient alone for effective project management. Effective Project Management requires that the project manager understand and use the knowledge and skills from at least four areas of expertise. Examples are PMBOK, Application Area Knowledge: standards and regulations set forth by ISO fo project management, General Management Skills and Project Environment Management

Project teams

When recruiting and building an effective team, the manager must consider not only the technical skills of each person, but also the critical roles and chemistry between workers. A project team has mainly three separate components: Project Manager, Core Team and Contracted Team.

Risk

Most of the project management issues that influence a project arise from risk, which in turn arises from uncertainty. The successful project manager focuses on this as his/her main concern and attempts to reduce risk significantly, often by adhering to a policy of open communication, ensuring that project participants can voice their opinions and concerns.

Types of project managers

Construction Project Manager

Construction project managers in the past were individuals, who worked in construction or supporting industries and were promoted to foreman. It was not until the late 20th century that construction and Construction management became distinct fields.

Until recently, the industry lacked any level of standardization, with individual States determining the eligibility requirements within their jurisdiction. However, several Trade associations based in the United States have made strides in creating a commonly-accepted set of qualifications and tests to determine a project manager's competency.

• The Project Management Institute has made some headway into being a standardizing body with its creation of the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.
• The Constructor Certification Commission of the American Institute of Constructors holds semiannual nationwide tests. Eight American Construction Management programs require that students take these exams before they may receive their Bachelor of Science in Construction Management degree, and 15 other Universities actively encourage their students to consider the exams.
• The Associated Colleges of Construction Education, and the Associated Schools of Construction have made considerable progress in developing national standards for construction education programs.-

The profession has recently grown to accommodate several dozen Construction Management Bachelor of Science programs.

Architectural Project Manager

Architectural project manager are project managers in the field of architecture. They has many of the same skills as their counterpart in the construction industry. An architect will often work closely with the construction project manager in the office of the General contractor (GC), and at the same time, coordinate the work of the design team and numerous consultants who contribute to a construction project, and manage communication with the client. The issues of budget, scheduling, and quality-control are the responsibility of the Project Manager in an architect's office.

Software Project Manager

Software project managerer are project managers with a firm background in software development and related fields. They are often responsible for overseeing the Software development life cycle.

Unlike traditional project management, where a heavyweight, predictive methodology such as the waterfall model is often employed, software project management must deal with a much greater amount of uncertainty, so it tends toward lightweight, adaptive models such as SCRUM, XP and DSDM. Software project managers are responsible not only for implementing a successful development model, but also for seeing that each phase of development is successful.

Education, certifications and networks

Individuals wishing to obtain professional certifications may take one or more of the offerings available from a variety of organizations.

• The Project Management Institute offers Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Program Management Professional (PgMP), and Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications.
• The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) offers GSC as Project Manager.
• The UK Office of Government Commerce offers PRINCE2 certification.
• The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) offers Registered Project Manager (RegPM) certification.
• The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and its School of Program Management offers practitioner training in every element of project management for members of the Federal Government, Defense industry and allied nations.

There are other graduate degrees in project and technology management, such as an MSPM. However, the majority of all project management skills may be developed through the completion of a Ph.D, D.Phil or other similar higher Doctorate.

The Project Management Institute offers the following credentials to project managers:

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM),
• Master Project Management (MPM)
• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP),
• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP), and
• Project Management Professional (PMP).

The IPMA is an international network of national project management societies such as Association for Project Management in the UK. IPMA serves as an umbrella organisation representing national societies which offer their certifications.

Project Management training

Methods of Project Management training are very diverse. Much of the training received by most project managers is on the job training. Other sources of training include

• University degree programs in project management
• Business degree programs with some level of Project Management emphasis
• Certification preparatory classes and training
• Social media such as blogs and podcasts
• Books
• Seminars and conferences
• Local group meetings (I.E. local chapters)

See also

• Event Planning and Production
• Master of Science in Project Management
• Project engineer
• Project management
• Project planning