Project Manager

Since the rapid development of the world economy in the last century, the term "project" has been used quite often. The position of project manager appeared in the information technology industry for the first time. After the success of IT companies, the profession has gained a foothold in other fields as well.   It is worth noting that not all organizations pay proper attention to project management, which is a big mistake. Data from Mediawire says that businesses that don't properly value the importance of the PM profession fall short in 67% of product work. So if you want to build a productive company, especially in the IT industry, it is essential to have a good project manager. And for those who are interested in this profession and thinking about where to get practical skills so they can qualify for a prestigious position, we will publish some tips.

Who is the PM?

First, let's clarify what the term "project" means. This is a kind of working event, which has a time limit. Its goal is to produce a certain unique product. If we are talking not about a unique element, we will be talking about operational activities. For example, the release of the first car model is a project, and the production of other identical ones on an assembly line basis is operational work. The project includes several stages:

• Initiation;
• Planning;
• Fulfillment;
• Monitoring control;
• Completion (achievement of the result agreed upon at the beginning).

Even from the first stage, the project manager is involved in the work, controlling each of them until a logical conclusion is reached.  We should mention the three elements on which the project is based: deadlines, lists of tasks and volumes, and the resources needed. Any change in them leads to a revision of all the other parts and will directly affect the product itself. The PM manages all these key elements, they are responsible for the balance of forces, completeness, and following expectations. The customer specifies in advance the quality of the product and related components that are expected to be seen in the end, the deadlines, and the available budget. Another very exciting part of a specialist's job is risk management activities. The process usually takes place using such a tool as brainstorming. The people in charge, united, generate possible developments that could prevent the success of the project, all the elements that could go wrong, all the things that could fail. These items are combined into a list, and each is given a different status (high, medium, low probability), as well as the level of influence on the workflow. These risks are regularly reviewed and updated, and the chances of materializing in real life are assessed. It is impossible not to mention the process of communication. The project manager establishes relationships with everyone involved in the project. These are all team employees, contractors, partners, executives, customers, and end users. The PM knows who is responsible for what, who does what work, and who to contact to solve this or that problem. This greatly simplifies and speeds up operations and issues.

Qualities of an ideal project manager

Let's analyze what personal qualities a project management specialist should have for providing a successful product: It should be a responsible person. That is, take the job seriously and understand how many responsibilities are assigned. In the end, a project manager will be responsible for any shortcomings, omissions, failure to meet deadlines, and other errors. No one is going to figure out why the average employee did not perform their task or made an oversight. After all, it is the responsibility of the project manager to check compliance with the TOR, deadlines, and quality control of the work of the entire team. At the same time, it is the PM who tells the customer the negative news (if something didn't work out for the team, if contractors failed, or if the market showed the wrong results). As a liaison, the PM takes responsibility and recognizes the commitment to do with everything that happens in the company. Stress tolerance is a must. During the work on the project, there is often the possibility of force majeure, last-minute deadlines, non-delivered materials, the breaking down of a program, and so on and so forth. And the project manager is "boiled" in all this. They control the quality of tasks, explain to the customer what went wrong and why it did not work, communicate with employees, and calmly find out what kind of help is needed. The PM is ready to take the hit, quell conflicts, and quickly look for solutions. Leadership skills. Such qualities as charisma, the talent to lead a team, the gift of persuasion, public speaking, and conveying thoughts clearly, intelligibly, and understandably are important in the work of a project management specialist. The customer and the owner of the company must see that a strong person rules the project, understands what is required, and can in a short time to organize people. Purposefulness is something one cannot go into the profession without. After all, the main task of a project manager is to bring a project to completion. Despite all the difficulties, stresses, misunderstandings, and lack of resources that can be encountered in the process, you need to remember what you and your team are going for, and remind them of that, motivate everyone. The PM is the person every employee can rely on; the customer relies on their word. One more quality is initiative. The specialist must be enthusiastic about the project, show genuine interest and remain active at all stages. It is, in fact, the driver of the team who is able to lift spirits, no matter how difficult the times and circumstances may be.

Project Manager course: where to learn

Courses from DevEducation offer a quality training program for the profession of project manager. You will get up-to-date knowledge and learn the necessary tools that will be useful in your work. Teachers are practitioners who have more than one successful project in their assets. They will share insider knowledge, advice, and help you get much closer to an interesting and prestigious profession.