THE ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGER
The project manager is the driving force in the management control loop. This individual seldom participates directly in the activities that produce the end result, but rather strives to maintain the progress and productive mutual interaction of various parties in such a way that overall risk of failure is reduced.
A project manager is often a client representative and has to determine and implement the exact needs of the client, based on knowledge of the firm he/she is representing. The ability to adapt to the various internal procedures of the contracting party, and to form close links with the nominated representatives, is essential in ensuring that the key issues of cost, time, quality, and above all, client satisfaction, can be realized.
In whatever field, a successful project manager must be able to envisage the entire project from start to finish and to have the ability to ensure that this vision is realized.
When they are appointed, project managers should be given terms of reference that define their:
-Objectives;
-Responsibilities;
-Limits of authority.
Responsibilities of a Project Manager:
The objective of every project manager is to deliver the product on time, within budget and with the required quality. Although the precise responsibilities of a project manager will vary from company to company and from project to project, they should always include planning and forecasting. Three additional areas of management responsibility are:
interpersonal responsibilities, which include:
- leading the project team;
- liaising with initiators, senior management and suppliers;
- being the 'figurehead', i.e. setting the example to the project team and representing the project on formal occasions.
informational responsibilities, which include:
- monitoring the performance of staff and the implementation of the project plan;
- disseminating information about tasks to the project team;
- disseminating information about project status to initiators and senior management;
- acting as the spokesman for the project team.
decisional responsibilities, which include:
- allocating resources according to the project plan, and adjusting those allocations when circumstances dictate (i.e. the project manager has responsibility for the budget);
- negotiating with the initiator about the optimum interpretation of contractual obligations, with the company management for resources, and with project staff about their tasks;
- handling disturbances to the smooth progress of the project such as equipment failures and personnel problems.
