Who are the stakeholders in a project?
09-December-2024
How to build and manage a project team
12-January-2025
5 – THE PROJECT MANAGER
The project manager is the person ultimately responsible for getting the output delivered to the client’s requirements. So what is the role of the project manager?
Contrary to the traditional maxim that it’s all about being on time, on budget and to the specification, today’s project manager needs a much broader focus.
Thus they need a range of skills and abilities, and the job of selecting the right person to lead the project at hand is a complex one.
Project management is different
5.1 – What is project management?
Project management is different from day-to-day functional management. Understand why the emphasis is on effectiveness more than efficiency, and achieving a goal is more important than meeting productivity targets.
The traditional maxim it that managing a project is all about being on time, on budget and to the specification. Learn why today’s project manager needs a much broader focus.
This is well illustrated in the story of One Worldwide Plaza in New York.
You will learn:
- What is project management.
- What is the definition of project management.
- How project management is different from operations management.
- What are the components of a project.
- What project management consists of.
- What is the difference between managing and leading a project.
- What a project manager does.
- What are the facets of project management.
- What are the pressures on the project manager.
- Why project management is a necessary overhead.
The project manager’s priorities
5.2 – What the project manager does
Appreciate why the project manager’s role is actually about properly understanding the outcome the customer is seeking, and managing the project focused on that.
Discover the range of skills and abilities a project manager needs. Find out why the job of selecting the right person to lead the project at hand is a complex one.
You will learn:
- What is the role of the project manager.
- What is the shape of a modern project team.
- What skills a project manager should have.
- What attitude a project manager should have.
- What traits a project manager should have.
- Why charisma is important in a project manager.
- How a project manager can balance different priorities in a project.
Who should run the project?
5.3 – Choosing the project manager
It is vital to select a project manager who has the right blend of expertise and experience for your project. Learn why character and temperament are major considerations, alongside relevant expertise. The job looks just as demanding as flying the vintage jet aircraft in the video titles?
You will learn:
- What challenges a project faces.
- How to choose the right project manager for a project.
- Why a project manager’s personality is important.
- What are the different types of project management.
- What is a good leadership style for a project manager.
- How a project manager can get things done.
- Why a project manager needs a personal network.
- What a project manager’s typical day looks like.
- Why a project manager should practise reflection.
- What is the Gibbs reflective cycle.
What project management is really like
5.4 – Project management in real life
Understand that there can be a big gap between the theory of project management and the day-to-day reality. See how project managers often need to succeed in sub-optimal circumstances, where strength of character counts as much as managerial capability. What is the role of the project manager in steering a project in the real world?
You will learn:
- What are misconceptions about project management.
- Why the project manager can change during a project.
- How to change the project manager during a project.
- Why a project manager might not join a project at the start.
- How a project manager should work with stakeholders.
- Which stakeholders will a project manager have to work with.
- Why stakeholders matter for a project manager.
- How workplace politics can affect project management.
- How a project manager should deal with mistakes.
- How a project manager can give coaching.
- How a project manager can get coaching.