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P
ERHAPS you've worked on plenty of projects,
and you think you would like to make a career
out of project management. What exactly does a
successful project manager do and what does it take to
become one? What skills do you need? Read on to
find out.
What is project management and what do project
managers do?
According to the Project Management Institute's (PMI)® A Guide to the Project Management Body
of Knowledge® (PMBOK® Guide), "Project management is the application of knowledge, skills,
tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements." If you're new to project
management, this definition might have left you scratching your head in confusion. So, what exactly is it
that project managers do?
Essentially, the project manager is accountable for the success or failure of a project. Typical
responsibilities of a project manager include:
1. Planning, Executing, and Closing Projects — defining the project, building its comprehensive work
plan, and managing to the budget
2. Managing Teams — facilitating commitment and productivity, removing obstacles, and motivating
team members
3. Managing Expectations — aligning projects to business goals, managing stakeholders, and
communicating project status, milestones, and unexpected difficulties effectively
Some project managers need to assist with the gathering of business requirements and may work full-
time on larger projects.In addition to all of this, depending on factors such as the size and complexity
of a project and resource constraints, a project manager may need to wear multiple hats; for example,
some project managers need to assist with the gathering of business requirements and/or may work
full time on a large project or even part-time on multiple, smaller-sized projects.
Also, it's important to remember that project managers are not expected to carry out all of the project
work themselves. Project managers have project teams working under them who help to achieve all of
the objectives of the project; however, if something goes astray with the project, the project manager
is always ultimately accountable.
What is a Project Manager?
P R O J E C T M A N AG E M E N T
