In previous posts, we discussed the different types of project management roles you’ll be qualified for and how to find them. We also talked about the value project managers bring to their teams and organisations. Let’s take a closer look at a Project Manager’s roles and responsibilities.
As we have previously discussed, project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet project requirements and achieve the desired outcome.
What causes this to happen? This is where you come into play. Project managers typically follow a process that includes planning and organising, task management, budgeting and cost control, and other factors to ensure that the project completes within the approved budget and timeframe.
Let’s break these down into responsibilities that you might see in a job posting for a project management position.
We’ll begin by planning and organising.
Using productivity tools and creating processes is one responsibility that falls under the umbrella of planning and organising. You may use specific tools and develop strategies to improve information sharing across the team during project planning and execution; you may also create plans, timelines, schedules, and other forms of documentation to track project completion. You will typically be required to maintain those documents throughout the project.
Budgeting and cost control, among other things.
Changes to the plan and budget are unavoidable as the project progresses, necessitating budget monitoring and management, tracking issues and risks as they arise, and managing quality by mitigating those issues and risks.
One method is to remove any unexpected barriers that arise. By barriers, we now mean things that can hinder project progress.
For example, suppose your teammates lack the resources needed to complete a task. In that case, you could identify the problem or barrier ahead of time, escalate it to the right project stakeholders, and work to secure the resource so your team can move forward.
One of the most essential roles of a project manager is to manage tasks effectively.
A project task is an activity that you, your team, or your stakeholders must complete within a specific time frame. Keeping track of the completed, overdue, and in-progress tasks is a great way to help manage the workload of the team and ensure that things get done. It is also a great way to show progress to your stakeholders. By actively managing tasks throughout the project lifecycle, you can keep track of everyone’s progress and efficiently inform stakeholders, allowing you to meet your project objectives with minimal problems.
Excellent work. You should now be able to describe a project manager’s roles and responsibilities.
