Project management is a core element of daily organization workflow. Projects are summed as continuous cumulative tasks carried out for the purpose of achieving a common goal in an organization. Generally, projects in most cases require ingenuity, versatility, creativity and active participation of a project team. Identifying the roles and responsibilities of team members ensures consistent levels of accountability and effectiveness during a project. Project management processes are geared towards service delivery, customer satisfaction, business excellence, effectiveness and meeting deliverables.
Project Life Cycle
Basically, a project is considered a series of sequential tasks and phases done to achieve an outcome. Phases are events divided into four phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Closeout. Above all, these are all done with the objective of completing a project. The result should be specific, time-bound, measurable, attainable and realistic. Generally,this is all documented in the Project Master Document. This document dictated by the project manager should contain details, specifications, workflows for all components of the project. Consequently, from beginning to end.
Roles Lined Up
So what are the most common roles we see in the project management sphere? First of all, we have the Project Director, Project Manager, Project Team Leaders, Project Team Members, Project Controller, Project Planner. In addition, we can have extra roles like a Project Scheduler, Project Estimator, Methodologist, Risk Management Coordinator. For instance, the extra roles like a Scheduler can be in charge of the development and maintenance of schedules. This can be for multiple, large or complex projects and programs. Generally, a risk management Coordinator ensures project risks are adequately monitored and managed. So let’s diffuse some roles, shall we?
The Project Director
He/she typically ensures project success from a functional perspective with general supervision duties. The Director further signs off on deliverables, and on project completion. Basically, giving executive oversight for all organizational projects and maintains the responsibility to project sponsors or clients. The project director keeps effective communication with sponsors, clients, and stakeholders. Besides, he/she provides project vision, approves budgets and keeps everyone in line.
Project Manager
Generally, this individual may be the pinnacle of project management responsible for ensuring project completion. He/she manages all implementation process activities, project resourcing, communication with members. The go-to guy for the director, sponsors, and clients. The manager’s duties consist of status reporting, risk management, problem troubleshooting, and de-escalation of issues that cannot be resolved by the team. They keep everything in check, make sure the project is delivered on budget, on a time, completed within scope, budget, and timeframe.
Project Manager Responsibilities.
- Developing project and implementation plans
- Facilitation of communication of project progress to all stakeholders and feedback for project deliverables
- Assisting with change management
- Maintenance of project records and documenting work plans
- Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution
- Choosing project team members
- Coordination and initiation of project meetings
- Ongoing supervision, monitoring, and review all project activities.
- Approval of project deliverable completion
Additional Competencies.
For this job, a high level of competence is required in communication, general planning, negotiating, coaching and decision-making. This is a great supplement since he/she needs to make key decisions concerning management of the project resources. All with responsibility and authority for the project to have direction and control. Though he selects core team members, he may not have direct supervisory responsibility at times. Similarly, these can be such as hiring, payments and performance reviews.
The Main Man
They balance the relationship with clients or sponsors, keeping them informed of progress and issues to manage expectations. These expectations are on all project requirements and deliverables. In addition, they oversee project documentation and analyze lessons learned. Basically, the project is highly dependent on the project manager to become a success. Furthermore, you could say he/she is the main man.
The Project Team Leader
Generally, some projects have a team leader who is right below the project manager in the hierarchy. Specifically, the project team leader in project management reports directly to the project manager. He supervises his teammates and represents the team within a large project. Basically, a Project Team Leader may be responsible for one or more components or features in a project.
Subset Team Leader Skills
Subsequently, team leader normally possesses a subset of the skills and experience which mirrors that of the project manager. Subsequently, those could be an understanding of the strategic and operational issues of the project and analytical thinking skills. Furthermore, great troubleshooting, decision making, and problem-solving skills. As a result, they typically organize the tasks into manageable activity clusters or phases to simplify work. Specifically, this is seen in agile development methodologies like Scrum and test-driven development. An effective approach to completing the work within timelines.
Team Members
Accordingly,the roles of team members will vary by project, task, and industry. They are responsible for conducting project activities. They can share responsibilities or have specialist team Roles within the project management. These can include roles such as developers, accountant, schedulers, test engineers, quality control, Systems Analyst, countless more. They should have the ability to communicate orally and via written, collaborate, and problem solve in a team context. Should be creative enough to evaluate complex situations accurately and identify viable solutions. Similarly, all to achieve a common goal of successful outcomes for the client.
Stakeholders
A very wide term to use, stakeholders can consist of individuals and organizations who have an interest in the project. Maybe whose interests may be positively or negatively affected by the project execution or completion. Specifically, these can include the team, sponsors, clients, board members, Steering Committee and Customers. Stakeholders typically exert influence over the project and the project results. So basically, any individual or group whose interests may be impacted by a project deliverable in project management.
The Client
Finally, everything done in a project is with the aim of pleasing the client. The firm, organization or group requesting the project. Specifically, the client articulates the details of their project request to give the team direction. Furthermore, these details can range from goals, objectives, specifications to basic outcomes. Even more, he is normally thoroughly interviewed to give the project direction and meaning. After project completion, the client becomes the owner of the product or service resulting from the project.