Project management roles can be found in most sectors. However, the job title itself is quite vague, so you might be wondering what do project managers do? Read on for our rundown of the responsibilities of a project manager.
Types of Project Managers
Many job roles require an element of project management but do not have the name project manager.
Then there are traditional product managers, whose main responsibility is to plan and oversee internal projects or those delivered to outside clients. They are skilled in project management methodologies such as PRINCE2, ITOL, APM, PMI, Certified ScrumMaster, and IAPM.
There are also specialist project management consultancies or freelancers that you can call upon for project management services in Georgia or your particular area.
What Do Project Managers Do?
In general, project managers have responsibility for the planning, management, and completion of a given project. They also lead on the resources, procurement, and communication regarding the project. Ultimately, they manage the process from end to end, attempting to complete the project on time and on budget.
The Main Duties of a Project Manager
Whether a project is large or small, the anatomy of a project follows pretty similar guidelines.
Project Planning
At this initial stage, the project manager will work with relevant stakeholders to agree on the scope of the project and the required outcomes.
Projects are rarely siloed and will be a part of a larger business goal. Once these goals are understood, the project manager will begin to fine-tune a project plan which includes budgets, deliverables, resources, and milestones.
Resource Provisioning
Having had the initial plan and budget overview agreed, then more detailed plans are made for the allocation of budgets and the resourcing of the project in terms of people, materials, and time.
Ask any project manager and they will probably tell you there is never enough time or money, but a good project manager will be able to work with the resources they have in the most efficient way possible.
Modern project management platforms have made it far easier to plan and monitor project dependencies and resources, allowing project managers to allocate resources more effectively and react to potential issues.
Day-to-Day Management
The project manager oversees the project daily, communicating with stakeholders, tweaking the project plan, and reacting to any issues that may arise. They also serve as an important leader of the overall project team.
Reporting
When the project has been delivered, this does not mark the end of the project manager’s role. Often, they run a post-project analysis. This is a thorough review of the project, how it went and what can be done differently next time. Any learnings are used to improve future projects.
Conclusion
The role of the project manager is vital to the overall success of a company’s strategic goals. Large projects require specialist expertise to keep them on target and the skills of a good project manager are indispensable.