MANAGING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROJECTS:THE PROJECT MANAGER

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2. THE PROJECT MANAGER

A project manager typically is someone who has a wide breadth and depth of knowledge and ex- perience in a number of areas. He or she also is someone who is skilled in working with teams, leverages relationships judiciously, and is knowledgeable in the use of tools and techniques that aid in accomplishing his or her role.

The Project Manager’s Role

The project manager facilitates the team-building process and collaborates with the project team to create and execute the project plan. The project manager also acts as the liaison between the team and the client. He or she continually monitors the progress of the project and reports project status periodically to both the client and other interested stakeholders. The project manager works to ensure that the client is satisfied and that the project is completed within the parameters of scope, schedule, cost, and quality.

Project Manager Characteristics

A project manager’s characteristics differ from those of the typical functional manager. For example, functional managers usually:

• Are specialists

• Function as technical supervisors

• Are skilled at analysis and analytical approaches

• Maintain line control over team members Project managers, on the other hand, typically:

• Are generalists with wide experience and knowledge

• Coordinate teams of specialists from a variety of technical areas

• Have technical expertise in one or two areas

• Are skilled at synthesis and the systems approach

• Do not have line control over the project team members

Identifying Project Manager Candidates

Project managers can be persons working for the professional enterprise who are reassigned to the project manager position for the life of a given project or for a specified period of time. Project manager candidates may also come from outside the organization. For example, they may be con- tracted by the organization to serve as the project manager for a specific project.

Project managers may come from almost any educational background, although the industrial engineering curriculum is probably the most relevant. In any case, a successful project manager candidate should be able to demonstrate significant experience in the position. Additional qualifica- tions might include project manager certification, which is awarded to qualified persons by organi- zations such as the Project Management Institute.

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