Roles and Responsibilities of Project Manager
Roles and Responsibilities of Project Manager are seen in designing, developing, and delivering the goals set out in the Project. We have been hearing about the project right from our school days, like math projects, geography projects, science projects, etc.
A project can be defined as any task which needs to be completed, be it a NASA project or a Maths project. Thus, the project means the accomplishment of a defined goal. Also, these projects require Project Managers and a Project management team.
Who is a Project Manager?
For leading a project, the sole responsible person, the spread head of a project, is known as a Project Manager. From Project Initiation to Project Delivery, he/ she manages all the aspects of the project and makes sure that the project is completed within the assigned time and gets delivered to the client.
He not only provides a vision of the project to his team members but also keeps their focus fixed on the same, and that is why he is the champion of the project.
The project manager is the one who ultimately gets all the praise for the success of the project or is also discredited for the failure of the project. He is solely responsible for the fate of a project.
What is a Project Team?
A group of individuals teamed together is known as a Project Team. Their objective is to complete the project within the designated time period systematically. As there are so many aspects of a project, a project team and a manager, on the whole, are required to make the project a successful one.
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Duties of a Project Manager
The duties of a project manager vary from company to company. Also, it can be changed as per the requirement of a Project. There are some core responsibilities which are common in all organization. Here we will discuss the same:
1. Planning
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. As mentioned, to achieve a certain goal, we need to run a whole project. In this, the role of the Project Manager is creating a roadmap or planning beforehand. Further approval of a project depends on the layout of the plan made for it.
Planning consists of each of the following questions:
- What is the task to be completed?
- Who will complete these tasks?
- By what time must the task be completed?
In this period, the Project Manager makes a project plan and schedule to define the Project Scope. To deliver the project to the customer, he or she develops some procedures which are efficient enough and policies keeping in mind the specified time and given a budget. Planning not only takes into factor the time required to complete the project but also involves determining the resources. Planning is something that is required at each stage of the project and not just in the beginning.
2. Organizing
After planning is done by a Project Manager, there comes the role of organizing all the resources required to execute the planning successfully. In simple words, giving a structure to the project team is what organizing is.
Organizing is about delegating roles to the project team members and deciding the specified time to achieve the targets. To brief the members about the tools that they can use is also included in this step.
3. Leading
After organizing the structured roles to each of the team members, the project manager takes the role of leading the project in a structured way in a defined time and budget. This is the most important responsibility of a Project Manager.
The Project Manager takes the lead right from the start of a project.
- He makes sure that the tasks are completed by team members within time.
- He makes sure to delegate the task proportionately to all team members.
- The Project Manager keeps a regular check on project development.
- He conducts regular meetings for discussions and follow-ups.
- He takes a decision at each stage of project progress.
- The Project Manager keeps a check on a technical issue.
Leading also includes interpersonal skills apart from the technical aspects. Project managers help their team members in their personal development as well.
4. Monitoring
The project manager needs to ensure that the project is on the right track by constantly being on their toes; also, they need to ensure that the resources are being used efficiently within the time limit.
Following is the three-step controlling process that project managers use:
- Measure: Keep a strict check on the progress of the project.
- Evaluate: Finding out the causes of deviations.
- Correct: Do corrections to address the issue of deviation.
The accomplishment of the desired goal of a project by a contribution from the project team members is called as monitoring; unlike dictating that used to happen earlier, the project now happens through collaboration between project managers and team members.
5. Communicating
This is a very vital responsibility of a project manager. In order to plan, organize, lead and monitor a project, the project manager needs to communicate. Communication is highly important for the success of a project.
The Project Manager not only communicates with the team members but with all the stakeholders, including project sponsors, clients, external vendors, and other important stakeholders.
Most part of the communication usually happens between the team members and the project manager.
6. Managing Risk
Risks are uncertain; hence a project manager needs to manage risk and uncertain conditions, which can have a negative impact on the project. Thus Managing risk is an inevitable part of a project.
How does a Project Manager Handle Risk?
Managing risk means analyzing potential threats or positive developments. A project manager is responsible for optimizing risk and uncertainties and make sure that the risk response is implemented as envisioned.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Management Team
The project Management Team also has vital responsibilities, foremost being accepting and executing the task given by their project manager. Also, communication between members and the manager is important. The team members need to get along with each other to avoid delay or complete failure of the project.
Conclusion – Roles and Responsibilities of Project Manager
A complete team effort is required for a Project to be successful. As it’s a collective team effort, every role and responsibility performed by team members and project manager matters, be it small or huge. A project manager has to be friendly with their team members in order to carry out the project in the most efficient manner. A project on its success path is driven by its effort.
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