What Does A Project Manager Do?

Project managers are prevalent in almost all industries from architecture and construction to information technology and engineering.

These individuals play a vital role in the successful design, execution and monitoring of a project.

Duties

Some of the duties required of a project manager:

• Responsible for making decisions related to the project. Each decision made needs to benefit the project
• Recognizing that risk has a direct impact on the success of the project and that this needs to be considered throughout the duration of the project
• Decreasing risk and the amount of uncertainty by being open to communication and ensuring all relevant parties have an equal opportunity to express their opinions and concerns
• Monitoring and reporting back on progress
• Working with project manager software, such as Microsoft Project
• Use project manager software to organize tasks and the workforce
• Producing reports and charts on project manager software
• Planning and defining the scope of the project
• Project activity planning and laying out the sequence of events
• Allocating and planning resources
• Creating schedules
• Performing time and cost estimates
• Developing a budget
• Documentation
• Being a team leader
• Business partnering
• Working in a professional environment with vendors
• Quality control
• Motivating team members

Different Types of Project Managers

Types of project managers can be classified based on different industry and methodologies. Types of project managers based on industry include:

• Construction: also known as a foreman, a construction project manager oversees all projects related to construction.
• Healthcare: these careers are sometimes focused to one department in a healthcare company or are spread across the healthcare industry. Their focus ranges from patient management to creating new medical treatments.
• Engineering: working with a variety of professionals from various fields in manufacturing and engineering, these project managers are involved from the research and development phase up to design and manufacturing stages
• Information Technology: these project managers typically have a background in software development, application development, solicitation, database design and networking, as well as local design.
• Energy: project managers in this sector are responsible for programming, planning, budgeting, and acquiring capital assets. Projects need to be completed on time, within the stipulated budget and in line with all the requirements set out according to the necessary quality, safety, health, and environmental standards.

Types of project managers based on different methodologies:

• Waterfall Project Management: one of the oldest, but still one of the most commonly used methods used amongst development teams. This method works in a series of waves, where each step depends on the one before it. Problems can arise if a bug is detected in the midst of a wave and when previous steps need revisiting.
• Agile Project Management: a mindset methodology that is faster and more versatile than the waterfall method. This involves working on smaller chunks of work, allowing the project to pivot when necessary.
• Scrum Project Management: this method relies on short sprints to complete the project in smaller segments and timeframes, usually a one-month timeframe.
• Kanban Project Management: the sole focus of the Kanban method is organization. To do this one looks at the number of tasks going into the process and how each task can be streamlined and reduced.
• Lean Project Management: this process is similar to that of the Kanban Project Management style, but there is a greater emphasis on the customer and how processes can be reduced in order to deliver the best, most affordable experience for customers.
• Six Sigma Project Management: this method creates a better end result for the customer by improving the quality of a project’s output. This method is usually used in conjunction with other management styles in order to refine the project process.
• PRINCE2 Project Management: focused on efficiency and mitigating risks and errors, this method is highly detail-orientated and mostly used by private sectors. This method groups projects up into product-based steps that can be taken on one at a time.

How to Become a Project Manager

Companies prefer to hire project managers with an advanced education. There is no specific degree required when it comes to becoming a project manager.

However, there are degrees that will help to get you on the right path and that cover the content required to become a successful project manager. Most employers also look for individual with 2-4 years of work experience in the field or in a related area.

Education

Employers seek individuals with high expertise and skill levels. Although there is no specific degree required when it comes to becoming a project manager. However, there are degrees that will help to get you on the right path and that cover the content required to become a successful project manager.

The most commonly sought-after qualification is a bachelor’s or master’s qualification in Project Management. The content of the course will vary from college to college, but the core curriculum will be sufficient to train towards a project management career. Other degrees recognized include business administration and business management.

There are two certificates accredited through the Project Management Institute (PMI) that can be obtained individually that are also recognized by most employers. These are the Certified Associate in Project Management and the Project Management Professional certificates.

The Certified Associate in Project Management certificate is sufficient for an entry-level position. You will need a high school diploma and 1,500 hours of work experience in order to qualify for this certificate.

The Project Management Professional certificate can only be obtained after qualifying with a 4-year degree and having 4,500 hours of work experience. This is one of the most valued certificates and provides a strong foundation of knowledge and experience from which to build a project management career.

Required Work Experience

The work experience criteria will depend on the expertise level requirements of the position available.

Generally, an entry level position won’t require any work experience or will require an internship taken on during studies. Higher level positions will generally require 2-4 years of work experience.

Key Skills to Have

Some of the key skills required to become a successful project manager:

• The ability to ask penetrating questions
• General management skills
• Open to communication
• Resolve conflicts in a professional manner
• Familiarity with project manager software, such as Microsoft Project
• Negotiation skills
• Risk management
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication
• Cost control
• Scheduling
• Quality control
• Task management
• Analytical skills
• Organizational skills
• Motivational skills