The Project Manager Role

Gunnar Nordahl PMP

Accountability = Responsibility + Authority."

-Harold Kerzner, PhD-

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Objectives for this module

After completing this module the
participant should:

1. Be able to explain the skill-set required of a

project manager
2. Be able to outline and explain behavior which
is consistent with success as a project
manager

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Skill set required for the PM

Technical skills Communication
Subject matter Listening
knowledge Articulation
Finance and cost Negotiation
control Leadership
Planning & scheduling Systems thinking
Risk analysis Prioritization
Contracts Delegation
administration

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The Project Management

Profession
A 1996 Fortune article called project
management the number one career
choice
Business literature authors increasingly
refer to projects as what add value to
organizations
Professional societies like the Project
Management Institute have grown
tremendously over the last few years

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What is the What is the

organizations organizations
perceived normal perceived normal
training time for an training time for a
Engineer? Project Manager?
4 years plus gradual
introduction to
increasingly degrees
of responsibility?

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The successful Project Manager
Insists on right to select project
team
Negotiates with proven key
team members
Develops early commitment
and a sense of mission
Seeks sufficient authority from
the Sponsor
Coordinates good relationships
between stakeholders
Involves team members in
decisions
Sets realistic goals
Encourages team spirit
Maintains strong contingency
plans
Provides appropriate team
structure
Goes beyond formal influence to
gain support and influence
Maintains workable tools
Avoids over-reliance on one tool
Stresses focus on objectives
Sets priorities
Keeps changes under control
Assures job-security and
development possibilities for
team members
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Management
Doing things right
Leadership
Doing the right things

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According to Kotter:

MANAGING LEADING
is concerned with is concerned with
consistently establishing
producing key direction,
results expected aligning people,
motivating and
by stakeholders inspiring
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Project Management
Certification
PMI provides certification as a Project
Management Professional (PMP)
A PMP has documented sufficient project
experience, agreed to follow a code of ethics, and
passed the PMP exam
The number of people earning PMP certification is
increasing quickly
Other groups, like the Gartner Group and an an
increasing number of educational institutions have
their own PM or IT PM certification programs

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Topics for discussion

To what extent does the project Manager
need to be a subject matter expert for a
technical project?
To what extent should the Project Manager
be directly involved in the project work?
What makes a successful Project Manager?

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