The Project Manager is responsible for delivering the project, with authority and responsibility from the Project Board to run the project on a day-to-day basis. Show
The project manager is the individual responsible for delivering the project. The individual leads and manages the project team, with authority and responsibility from the project board, to run the project on a day-to-day basis. In the NI public sector, PRojects IN Controlled Environments2 (PRINCE2) is the standard project management method and is applicable to all project types. As well as the formal responsibilities set out in methods such as PRINCE2, the project manager has an important role in interfacing between the project and the business area. This is important for communicating and encouraging the need for transformation and change within the business area in tandem with the delivery of new capabilities from the project. The readiness of the business to exploit the new capability is crucial to success. Without this state of readiness in the business, there are likely to be disruptions and delays in the plan for benefits realisation. Specific responsibilities of the project managerThe project manager, operating within agreed reporting structures, is responsible for:
In construction projects the project manager also provides the interface between the project sponsor and the supply side of the project team. Skills and attributes needed to be a project managerThe project manager should be able to:
Important to noteThe project manager should be appropriately trained in project management techniques and processes. For substantial projects, accredited training such as PRINCE2 Practitioner should be considered. It is essential that the skills and experience of the project manager are matched to the requirements of the project and the business should fund appropriate training.
Project management has always been an important function in business, and it’s only getting more important as time goes by. In fact, by 2027, employers will need 87.7 million individuals working in project management oriented roles. To help manage this increasing need, 71 percent of global organizations now have a project management office—an almost 15 percent increase from 2007. Clearly, the job outlook for professionals with project management skills is increasingly positive. If you’re considering a career in project management, you’re likely curious about the different roles and responsibilities you’ll have after earning your degree or certification. Here, we take a closer look at what project managers do—including key responsibilities—so you can better decide if it is the right career for you. Download Our Free Guide to Advancing Your Project Management CareerLearn what you need to know, from in-demand skills to the industry’s growing job opportunities.
Key Responsibilities of a Project ManagerSo, what do project managers actually do? In the broadest sense, project managers (PMs) are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the completion of specific projects for an organization while ensuring these projects are on time, on budget, and within scope. By overseeing complex projects from inception to completion, project managers have the potential to shape an organization’s trajectory, helping to reduce costs, maximize company efficiencies, and increase revenue. The exact duties of a project manager will depend on their industry, organization, and the types of projects that a PM is tasked with overseeing. But across the board, all project managers share responsibilities across what’s commonly referred to as the “project life cycle,” which consists of five phases (or processes):
While it may be tempting to think of these as “steps,” they aren’t. Rather, these are processes project managers continually return to throughout the life of a project. Below, we take a closer look at each phase of the project life cycle, as well as the different responsibilities a project manager might have in each. 1. InitiatingProject managers begin each new project by defining the main objectives of the project, its purpose, and its scope. They also identify key internal and external stakeholders, discuss shared expectations, and gain the required authorization necessary to move a project forward. Important questions that project managers ask during the initiating phase include:
It’s important to recognize that project managers don’t do this on their own. Oftentimes, a project manager isn’t assigned until much of this work is well underway. As soon as the project manager is assigned, however, he or she needs to fully engage in the above work which should culminate in a project being chartered and formally assigned. 2. PlanningOnce the charter is approved, project managers work with key stakeholders to create an integrated project plan focused on attaining the outlined goals. The plan established during this process helps project managers oversee scope, cost, timelines, risk, quality issues, and communications. It is during this phase that project managers will outline key deliverables and milestones and identify the tasks that must be completed to complete each. It’s important to note that project “planning” doesn’t actually end until the project does. The project plan should be treated as a living document that constantly evolves and changes throughout the project. 3. ExecutingDuring this phase, team members complete the work that has been identified in the project plan in order to reach the goals of the project. The project manager’s role is to assign this work and to ensure that tasks are completed as scheduled. The project manager will also typically:
4. Monitoring and ControllingDespite being listed as the fourth phase, monitoring and controlling processes actually commence at the beginning of a project and continue throughout planning, execution, and closing. In the monitoring and controlling phase, a project manager’s work includes:
Of course, things rarely go exactly according to plan. Therefore, a project manager must be flexible enough to work within a project’s plan but readily adapt when necessary. 5. ClosingDuring this phase, project managers strive to ensure all activities necessary to achieve the final result are completed. During the close of a project, project managers will:
After the project has been completed, a post-implementation review is often used to identify key lessons learned. Understanding what went well, what could be done differently, and what to stop doing can help inform and improve project management practices moving forward. What Does a Project Manager Do?: A Day in the Life of a Project ManagerAs shown above, the specific tasks that consume a project manager’s time will vary substantially depending on which phases of the life cycle their projects are in. That being said, there are a number of general tasks that any good project manager can expect to perform on a daily basis. These include:
Project Management vs. Portfolio Management vs. Program ManagementProject management is an umbrella term which can actually refer to three different types of management: Project management, portfolio management, and program management. While these disciplines are all similar and interrelated, they each have unique differences that impact the responsibilities of project managers in their given roles. Three types of interrelated project management disciplines include:
Developing Project Management Skills for SuccessIf you’re interested in pursuing a career in project management, it’s critical that you develop the necessary skills to execute the tasks assigned to you. Earning an advanced project management degree is one way to learn and improve those skills, increase your salary, and enhance your marketability to employers while giving you hands-on experience in the field. To learn more about advancing your career in project management, download our free guide below. Editor’s note: This article was originally published in July 2017. It has since been updated for accuracy and style. |