Preface
Project management is quite an interesting and exciting field. Projects are like the pillars of any successful organization. As the business grows, so does the responsibility for successfully initiating, planning, designing, executing, monitoring, controlling, and completing projects. Central to all of these roles is the project manager, who oversees successful development and project completion. Project managers possess the right knowledge, competencies, tools, and techniques to operate a project from scratch to completion.
This article discusses the important roles and responsibilities of the Project Management Professional (PMP) in today's organizations.
1.Ideation
Just like ‘Rome wasn't built in a day,' projects are born opaque and uncertain. As soon as project managers come up with ideas, they give structure to the project within days. They then create a perfect sketch and convert it into a realistic and measurable project plan. In other words, the project manager works from scratch and works out the project's feasibility.
2. Decision-making and Risk Assessment
The project manager is responsible for all project decisions. Whether it's a suggestion, a recommendation, or a demand, the final decision rests with the project manager. The project manager's decision-making authority determines the outcome of the project. This includes evaluating all available options, assessing the risks and benefits of each option, and choosing the best solution for your project. A project manager's negotiating skills and persuasiveness can help them make decisions that require customer approval.
3. Cost Management
All projects and their implementation cost money. It is the project manager's responsibility to effectively set the project budget. Cash management and cost control are one of the many important responsibilities that a project manager has.
Communicating to all stakeholders how and why all anticipated expenses will be paid is also part of being a project management expert within your organization.
4. Team organization
Once the idea has solidified, the critical feasibility decisions have been made, and the budget has been approved, the project manager's job is to assemble a team and work on making the rough idea a reality. It is the project manager's responsibility to assess members' skills and competencies and coordinate with members for the project.
5. Task delegation/team management
Once the team is assembled, the project manager's next job is to guide the team toward achieving the project goals. The project manager works with team members to define and delegate tasks so that each member understands exactly what needs to be done. The project manager has to help each team member understand their goals by providing a clear definition of their work.
Leadership also includes guiding, coaching, training, and developing people working on projects. To lead the team, the project manager must identify each member's strengths and weaknesses.
6. Delivering the Objectives
Execution of the project following the requirements of the stakeholders is the ultimate goal of the team and it is the responsibility of the project manager to ensure this. A project manager's success depends on being able to effectively execute the project as promised to the stakeholders. To track results, effective project managers use checklists that measure work committed versus work completed.
7. Handover
Handing over the project is also an important task for the project manager. He/she steps back after making a clear and complete handover to the end users/customers of the project. The execution phase is not complete until the project manager confirms that the team leading the project has a clear view of the project.
How do you nurture the role of a project manager?
Read blogs – Getting into the habit of reading various blogs that define project management techniques will help you process a lot of project management information.
Social Media/Linkedin Groups – Social media platforms like Twitter provide a lot of ‘food for thinking' about project management. Plus, LinkedIn is full of people to network with like-minded people. For deeper insight into project management, it doesn't get much better than this.
Webinars with industry thought leaders – A great way to get tips and stay up to date on project management tools and techniques. Stay up-to-date on trends in project management.
Join a Professional Association – Become a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the world's leading non-profit membership association dedicated exclusively to project management professionals.
Project Management Certification/Course – PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is one of the most recognized project management certifications. This certification validates professional-level competence in project management. Many employers seek candidates with PMP certification because this certification ensures that an individual project management skills have been formally tested.
To earn this certification, you can enroll in a project management training course at any major educational institution that offers a project management certification course or a project management training course.
For example, Henry Harvin's Management Academy offers a variety of project management courses, including the PMP Plus Specialist Course, the PMP Certification Training Course, and the Post Graduate Program in Project Management. In addition, Henry Harvin offers PMI® Certified PMP® Exam Preparation Course on Project Management through the Exam Prep Academy.
These courses have been carefully selected, taking into consideration the needs of the candidates as well as the needs of the industry. You can choose courses according to your career level and expertise. The cost of project management certification varies by course length and curriculum.
Keep learning – As a project manager, you must learn through educating yourself, be aware of project management trends, and obtain and maintain your PMI certification.
In Conclusion
Every company is different, its environment is different, and so are its projects. And the project manager is one of the key contributors to these elements of the company.
Project management is a demanding and diverse job, but it's also a great career option. As a project manager, you get to encourage and motivate your team. You can make your project a place where people get a platform to grow and develop new skills. Leverage resources to build team spirit.
To summarize the role of a project manager is to have:
- Has extensive knowledge of project implementation, methodologies, and techniques.
- A good understanding of the purpose of the project.
- Ability to work proactively within a team.
- Strong leadership and management skills
- Extensive knowledge of resource allocation and budgeting procedures.
- Ability to find efficient ways to resolve conflicts and problem-solving skills.
- Systematically report and track all tasks and keep senior management informed.
- Provide training to the project execution teams.
