Project manager role and responsibilities is one of the most important in an organization due to its high degree of corporate responsibility.
By 2030, nearly 25 million new project management professionals will be needed. In order to be successful in this type of organizational profile, you must have multiple skills and knowledge that must be consistent with the challenges and objectives that a company needs to meet.
If you are interested in being one or looking for one, this is your place. In the following article you will learn everything you need to know about who is a project manager, what are the roles and responsibilities of project management does it take to be one.
Who is a project manager?
In general terms, a project manager is a person who is responsible for work performed on a project, regardless of its characteristics, having as main responsibility, obtaining favorable results in terms of time, expectations and budget.
An efficient work of a project manager brings with it multiple benefits such as:
- Reduce costs and risks.
- Increases company productivity.
- Improves resource management.
- Facilitates adaptation to changes.
- Maximize the capabilities of the company.
- Drives process optimization.
What are the job duties of a project manager?
The responsibilities of a project manager tend to be general because, regardless of the type of project, all required compliance standards must be met for it to be successful.
There are 4 large groups of project manager duties that have to fulfil:
- Understand fundamentals of project planning and management
This perspective implies that the project manager leads a work team to achieve the goals set. This involves meeting the expectations of all interested and involved parties by carrying out the following actions:
- Define the scope of the project.
- Establish an execution schedule.
- Define quality standards.
- Limit the budget.
- Specify the risks.
- Meet the customer’s need.
Another critical feature that a project manager must oversee is internal communication to ensure that there are no “broken phones”.
2. Know the criteria of the organization
From this perspective, organizations must think about what the project manager needs to do:
- Add value to the satisfaction of needs.
- Strengthen relationships between work teams.
- Maintain friendly relations with company sponsors.
- Increase the competitiveness of the company.
- Strengthen the project management office.
3. Research the industry landscape
This is one of the most important functions, mainly because it is related to the impact of the project on the client. From this point of view, the project manager must:
- Be informed of trends.
- Monitor the launch of products or services.
- Investigate market niches.
- Know the legislation regarding the project.
- Identify variations of tools or resources.
“It is necessary to remember that the manager of a project must be up to date on the changes that could affect or modify their strategies.”
4. Promote good labor practices
Lastly, whoever leads project management must take into account good labor and professional practices. This exercise includes:
- Guide and train employees.
- Motivate staff by teaching project management.
- Contribute to constant knowledge.
- Participate in continuing education modalities.
What are the challenges of a project manager?
As in any position, there will always be challenges to face. In the case of a project manager, it is no exception. Let’s review the top three:
1. Face responsibility and authority
Among the challenges of a project manager, these are among the most delicate because these requirements are not proportional to each other. That is, the level of responsibility is higher due to the nature of the function, but it decreases when functions are delegated to the team.
2. Impose unattainable goals
The experience of a project manager is necessary because it allows him to put his feet on the ground and establish which objectives are achievable and which are not.
3. Focus on features
A corporate project manager must define the functions performed by each position under him. However, despite achieving this, 3 scenarios can be triggered that must be addressed:
- Team members can take on the project as their own and perform at their best.
- Each member could continue with the project without giving up their original functions if they share them.
- The staff decides to work focusing on the salary amount and not on the achievement of the project itself.
Project Manager definition is not only limited to what his profile must do but to everything that his work entails. Remember that every organization has someone of this type who works on projects of all sizes.