You are reading this piece probably because you are studying project management or you are interested to pursue project management as your career. Nevertheless, for all the reasons that bring you here, you will have full closure on project management and get the answers to the most asked questions about project management. The first thing you need to know is that project management entails leading a group of people in a team towards achieving a defined goal within a specified timeframe.
Project Management requires you to be dedicated from the start to the end of a project, establish a work plan for execution and a strategy to ensure you and your team remain focused and organized throughout the project. Below are some of the key questions to establish yourself in project management.
What is a project management book?
A project management book is a textbook that covers the basics of project management including all levels, and processes involved in the industry. This textbook should provide information on the initiation, planning, execution and problem solving. The textbook should also capture the specs of project strategy, tactics and the logistics involved in a project.
Top Rated Project Management Books of April 2024
What exactly do project managers do?
Project managers are the team leads who foresee work from a concept to delivery across the stages of planning, procurement, execution and completion of a given project. They handle the whole project from development of the scope of work, management of teams and resources.
They provide the budget, the appropriate leadership and support to their teams to ensure the project is successful.
There are several approaches of project management which include; Waterfall method, Agile method, Hybrid method, Scrum method, Critical Path Method among others. Regardless of the method used, the project manager bears the following roles and responsibilities;
Planning the project
Project managers work with the defined goals by the company. They work with the company stakeholders while using the strategic goals to guide them in generating the scope and expectations of the project. The planning defines how the project will be executed, it captures the budget, resources and timelines for delivery.
Resource management
The project manager is responsible for the management of all resources necessary for the success of the project. This includes tracking resource effectiveness from the time allocated, man-power and money invested in the project.
Managing the project and leadership
There are cases where the outlined plan faces unforeseen challenges and this requires the project manager to come up with adjustments and leadership on the changes to be adopted. The project manager has to provide reliable direction for completion but most importantly do whatever it takes to deliver on the project.
Report on the project
The project manager is responsible to provide periodic updates through reports regarding the progress of the project and establish areas of improvement. The reports must be timely and be provided upon request by the stakeholders. Some project managers use the Agile method which allows them to report on the project across the cycle.
Agile method allows the stakeholders to contribute to the project execution thus creating a higher probability of success. Having this two-way communication and engagement enables development of stable decision making, transparency in operations and early adjustments to ensure the continuity and efficiency of the project is met. You can find more here https://sampleproposal.org/blog/project-manager-job-proposal project manager job proposals.
What should I study to be a project manager?
If you want to be a project manager, you will be required to indulge in various materials that feed you with the required knowledge and use platforms that five your practical experience. There are a variety of courses you can begin with to establish your academic grip in the project management industry. Some courses you can begin with include; organizational management, engineering, finance, information technology, marketing and project management. Project management textbooks like Project Management for Dummies are a great start to starting your journey to become a project manager. Project Management for Dummies is a great guide on;
- How to effectively organize and schedule projects.
- How to access risks, manage unexpected changes and meet the expected deliverables.
- How to drive efficiency and develop connectivity using social media.
How to be a good project manager?
Every project manager desires no to just deliver, but leave a reputable reference on their work. If you are looking for ways to grow and be the best project manager, look no further, below is a complete guide on what to do to become a good project manager.
- Good communication skills are very important in your career as a project manager. This allows you to connect with your team and the stakeholders regardless of the level of interaction.
- You should be a reliable team leader. You are a source of motivation to your team and when things go wrong, they will be looking up to you for guidance, ensuring you have well prepared to provide well informed choices.
- You need to have the required competence and technical experience with project management tools. Acquire the right skills like budgeting, development of scope of work among others that are key in successfully managing a project.
- You should be composed and stay calm even when there is pressure. Project management can be engaging and pressure is almost inevitable. Staying calm allows you to process information with less emotions and make sure you remain focused and maintain a good relationship with your team.
- You should be able to understand and be empathetic with people who work with you. Understanding the needs of your stakeholders and fulfilling them without losing focus on motivating your team is very key.
