CHAPTER 3

The Project Manager

 Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the learner will be able to:

Recognize project management as a career opportunity;
Categorize the different key skills of a project manager;
Differentiate functional manager from project manager;
✓ Characterize the essential characteristics in the selection of a project
manager;
 Determine the responsibilities of a project manager towards his team; ✔
Internalize the essential characteristics of becoming an effective project team
member.
The Career of a Project Manager

A lot of firms have an extensive array of types and sizes of projects in

progress at the same time. It takes a good and experienced project manager to
engage with several projects simultaneously and serve a purpose beyond the output
of the projects themselves.

A successful project manager plans the project from start to finish, follow up
progress of business and technology in time, with flexible management tools. A
project manager is the person who has the overall responsibility for the successful
initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of a
project.
The project manager is responsible for the following tasks:

1. describing the scope of the project accurately

2. setting up the project schedule, and revising that schedule as it progress
3. recommending the project cost and then administering the project to avoid cost overruns
4. ensuring the project team has the supplies and human resources required to get the project done
on time and on cost
5. naming and reducing possible risks to the project timeframe and cost
6. ensuring that all project team members realize what their responsibilities are
7. communicate the project's development to management
8. the quality of the team's work and any supplies or materials used by the team
 Many current project managers though academically trained in management do not really
have college-level training specifically in project management. Project offer an excellent
environment for exceptional career advancement for future executives to develop their managerial
skills.
The career path of a project manager begins with actively participating in small projects.
Then, later the skills and experiences gained from undersized projects could be employed in larger
ones. A tooling manager, a project engineer, a manufacturing engineer, or a deputy project manager
could be given a project manager responsibility later on. The experience as project manager is
obviously a step toward the corporate ladder. The capability of the project manager to meet the
difficulties of senior management positions is portrayed by his ability to attain the project's goals
while operating in a chaotic environment even in the absence of an overt authority.

The trend today for firms is to look for a project manager with specific experience and skills to
understand the ins and outs of the technology or project being implemented. Consequently, it is
imperative for the managers of this generation to continuously develop their project management
skills and obtain certification in this field. At the same time, they must keep themselves abreast and be
trained in the latest technologies.
 Key Skills of a Project Manager

1. Organizational skill - A project manager creates structure from chaos by using specific tools such as charters, risk assessments,
Gantt charts, decision matrices, and many other tools throughout the project.

2. Skill to develop people - Training and development of people working for the project is a commitment of the project manager.
As a manager he has to add to each member's experience making them more knowledgeable and proficient at the end of the
project than when they started it.

3. Communication skill - A project manager must be proficient in both oral and written communication to always make certain
that he is clearly understood by all stakeholders. A good communication skill is important in keeping the project progressing,
spotting probable problems, getting suggestions for project performance improvement, being updated with ways of satisfying
customers, creating good working relations with project team among others.

4. Interpersonal skill - A project leader must be able to clearly communicate about goals, responsibility, performance,
expectations and feedback. The leader must have the skill to successfully bargain and make use of influence when needed to
make certain the success of the team and project.

5. Skill to handle stress - A project manager should be able to manage stress from work situations that are both tense and severe
at times. Even well planned projects may become subjected to unforeseen events that can cause urgent disorder for which the
manager must not panic. The project manager must have sense of humor in good taste, be physically fit through regular exercise
and good nutrition to handle stress related to his work.
6. Problem solving skill - A project manager ought to persuade project team members to recognize problems early
and be self-directed in resolving them. Using analytical skill the project leader together with project team members
should evaluate the information and formulate optimal solution to the problem.

7. Management and leadership skill - A project manager must know how to motivate people who do not work for
them, and keep teams working effectively together.

8. Time Management skill - Time is a project manager's scarcest resource. Budgeting time wisely and immediately
adjusting priorities is required of the project leader.

9. Technical skill - Technical knowledge bestows the project manager the creditability to offer leadership on a
technically based project, the capability to comprehend vital aspects of the project, and the aptitude to converse in
the lingo of the technicians.
 Table 6 Comparison between Functional Manager and Project
Manager
Point of Functional Manager
Comparison
Authority  Known as a line manager, is
traditionally the person who
the project manager and
other members of the team
report to
 Has authority over which
projects the team pursues
and is higher in the chain of
command than the project
manager
Project success  The effectiveness of the
entire team falls under the
responsibility of the
functional manager
Project Manager
 Has the responsibility of reporting to executives in
charge of the team that they manage
 When it comes to hiring (or firing) , the project
manage will consult with the functional manager as
to what is the best decision based on the project’s
need, but the ultimate decision lies with the
functional manager
 The success of the project lies on the shoulders of the
project manage
 The project manager is the team expert for delivering
successful projects; this involves knowing all of the
projects inputs necessary to achieve a goal such as
staff time, cost and equipment as well as having a
keen focus on how and when the project will meet its
objectives, managing the project schedule,
milestones and reporting
Staff Management  Functional manager is responsible
for measuring the overall
effectiveness of the staff,
performing evaluations,
professional development and
resolving conflicts
Technology  functional manager manages
management people
Skills  More skilled at analysis
Role  A direct technical supervisor
 Administratively responsible for
deciding how something will be
done, who is going to do it, and
what resources will be devoted to
accomplish a task
 The project manager is responsible for
ensuring that each staff member
understands her role in the project and is
adequately meeting outlined goals; he views
the staff the resources necessary to
accomplish project tasks and lead the efforts
in outlining, scheduling and monitoring the
work to be done
 The project manager manages resources and
assets necessary for a successful project.
 More skilled at synthesis
 A facilitator and generalist
 Responsible for organizing, planning,
budgeting, directing, planning, and
controlling the project
Competency  should have knowledge in the  Should be competent in the science of project
technology of the process being along with having the technical competence in
managed some aspects

Approach  Analytical in approach (breaking  Uses a system approach like understanding

the system into smaller and the organizational problem, for which the
smaller elements) and he knows project is a part, the organization for which
something about the operation the program exists, as well as the
for which he is responsible environment of the organization
Important Characteristics in the Selection of a Project Manager
1. Credibility-A project manager must possess both technical and administrative credibility. The project
manager to be technically credible must possess sufficient technical knowledge to direct the project as
perceived by the client, senior managers, functional heads and the project team members. The success of a
project is always linked to the technical competence of a project manager. Likewise, the technical
competence of the project leader is seen as a positive leadership character by project team members. High
level of expertise is not a requirement for a successful project leader.

2. Sensitivity - The project manager has to sense interpersonal conflict among members of the team or
between team and those outside. A project manager must be able to detect conflict in order to tackle and deal
with them prior to becoming a feud among departments or within departments. It is significant that the project
leader must influence individuals to cooperate despite personal indifferences and grudges towards the
attainment of the project goals.
3. Leadership, ethics and management style - Leadership is the ability to influence others towards the attainment
of a common goal. Success of different projects is attributed to the different yet fitting styles of project managers.
The key is to use each style at the right time. A strong sense of ethics is a significant aspect of leadership for a
project manager. Common unethical practices in business include kickbacks, violation of standards, compromising
on safety and buy-in.

4. Ability to handle stress - A project manager is prone to stress similar to any other humans. There are four major
stress often experienced by a project manager: no standard set of procedures and techniques with which to direct
their work; too much work to do; high requirement for achievement that always end up as a failure; and the so
many changes of the parent organization. The organization must minimize work overload both for their project
managers and employees. The project manager should be self-aware and marks the dangerous signals to avoid
over-stressed.
Responsibilities of a Project Manager

1. create the project plan

2. deal with the project stakeholders
3. supervise communication
4. direct the project team
5. handle the project risk
6. control the project schedule
7. cope with the project budget
8. handle the project conflicts
9. direct the project delivery
Important Characteristics of an Effective Project Team Member

1. Team Players - Shun from a person with a diva-like personality or a character for being
arrogant or belittling others, even how experienced or skillful that person might be. Somebody
who desires special attention is prone to become the root of splitting up and draw focus away
from the project. Use peer evaluations from previous project teams to study the most likely
candidates.

2. Self-Starters - Effective project team members are primed even from the start; prepared,
eager and enthusiastic to get the job. They know the need for a solid plan, including a project
initiation checklist. However, don't be shocked when these project team members exceed cut-off
date while doing exceptional work.

3. Influential - Members of an effective project team should have positive influence over their
peers. They should be able to persuade community members who could be helpful to the
project as well as their superiors and subordinates. Team members who are influential will not
only be able to convince key people to become involved but also inspire others to take action.
4. Motivational - Along the same vein, effective project team members are motivational by nature. While of course it is
important that the project manager is able to inspire the team to perform the necessary tasks, it is just as imperative that
the project team members are able to inspire and encourage one another as well as themselves. A motivated team will
have clear project goals in sight and have the endurance to carry through to completion.

5. Have Skills and Experience - An effective project team has team members with talent, knowledge and familiarity
essential to complete the activities handed over to them. The team must have an assortment of skills and personalities. In
order to select the best candidates, understanding and determining the crucial project management skills will help.

6. Dependable - The members of an effective project team are dependable, responsible and accountable to one another
as well as to themselves. They generate a sensible schedule that integrates timeliness with precision and detail, leaving
several opportunities for unforeseen obstacles. They stick to that schedule for the reason that they don't desire to let
down their teammates or themselves.

7. Can Communicate Well- Effective project team members know how to express themselves in a way that gets their point
across without offending others. They also effectively listen when others are articulating thoughts, opinions and ideas.
They will be proficient to talk well with other team members as well as management, other employees and those with
whom they must come in contact to complete the assigned tasks for the project. This characteristic reduces the chances of
misunderstandings and misinformation, as well.
8. Committed - Team members who are committed to the organization as well as the project in common are highly
effective. They are much more likely to give 100 percent at every step of the project and go above and beyond
when required. Committed team members believe in what they are doing. Therefore they take immense
contentment in a job well done. These are the team members who tend to set up weekly meetings in order to
make sure everyone is on track and that there are no foreseeable problems.

9. Can Think Creatively - One of the often overlooked yet highly valuable characteristics of an effective project team
are that they are able to think imaginatively. They are resourceful by nature and look for ways to make the best of
the tools and materials that are available. Creative thinkers are especially helpful during project planning, as they
can often put thoughts and ideas into other perspectives, turning out inventive and innovative concepts.

10. Supportive - Last but certainly not least, effective project team members should be supportive of the project,
the company and one another. When the project team stands behind what the organization and project represents,
rest assured that they will perform the best job possible. A supportive team will check in with one another to learn
the project status and learn whether any of their teammates need help. They will work together to ensure that the
project is completed in a timely and successful manner.