Project Planning

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According to the Project Management Institute, a project manager has limited involvement in the project's initiation, but heavy involvement in the planning process and the balance of the project life cycle. Let's go over the project manager's role as well as project scope statements, the work breakdown structure, project cost and budgeting, and look at project scheduling, project quality and stakeholder management from a planning perspective. The project charter has been created. Stakeholders have been identified. The project manager has been assigned. And the project has moved to the planning process group. What is the project manager's role in the project now? It will vary from company to company, and from industry to industry. Generally, the project manager's role involves, assuming a leadership role, influencing and motivating individuals and the project team to achieve a common goal. A project manager's influence also extends to providing direction, performing communication roles, and utilizing soft skills. In addition, a project manager will integrate all the components of the project, for a smooth transition or handoff where needed, in the right order and at the right time. A project manager could use the network diagram to integrate the deliverables in a project. According to the PMI, the top 2% of all project managers distinguish themselves by demonstrating superior relationship and communication skills along with a positive attitude. An example of a positive attitude is being optimistic, encouraging, striving to improve upon a negative report, and always believing that the project team's end result will be a positive or favorable one. This means delivering the project on-time, under-budget and within quality standards. In addition there are competencies that a project manager should achieve and maintain. The PMI represents those competencies by using a Talent Triangle. The Talent Triangle includes the following three items, technical project management, the knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to specific domain of project, program and portfolio management. Leadership, the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to guide, motivate and direct a team to help an organization achieve its business goals. And strategic business management, the knowledge of and expertise in the industry and organization that will enhance performance and deliver business outcomes. Project managers should also be good communicators because approximately 90% of their job involves communication. When dealing with people, it will benefit both parties to be understanding of what workers want and need in the workplace. There are many qualities and skills that make a good leader. An excellent project manager should strive to be a visionary, optimistic and positive, collaborative, good relationship managers, communicative, respectful, a person of integrity, willing to give credit, a life-long learner, a critical thinker, and able to build effective teams. All of these qualities will help project managers successfully lead their teams to a positive result for their project.