What does a project manager do apart from replying to emails, holding and attending meetings, and overlooking project status and deadlines?
Well, there’s a lot a project manager has to handle than what meets the eye. Project Management is among the crucial functions and responsibilities in business. Those who have studied Henri Fayol’s 14 principles of management must have an idea about the roles and responsibilities of a project manager.
For those who are unaware of these principles, as well as the aspiring project managers, here is a brief of roles and responsibilities you may have to serve while strategically thinking.
What does a project manager actually do?
The exact job role of a project manager depends on the industry, organization, and the types of projects to be handled.
However, broadly, a project manager’s role is to oversee the project lifecycle, which involves the following steps:
- Initiation
- Planning
- Execution
- Monitoring and controlling
- Closing
Roles and responsibilities of a project manager
1. Initiation
Have you ever noticed your project manager holding a team meeting every time he/she has a new project to announce? They decide the project scope, decide the objectives, and discuss shared expectations from clients as well as stakeholders.
Well, all this might sound overwhelming, however, a project manager doesn’t do this all alone. Sometimes, a project manager is assigned after all these tasks are completed. However, once the project manager is assigned they immediately need to engage in all the project-related tasks.
2. Planning
What is planning? What does it involve? Well, once the project scope and objectives are clear project managers along with the stakeholders create a project plan on how to achieve the defined goals.
Think of it as a road trip planning where the trip organizer discusses and decides the group be onboarded, travel goals, milestones, timelines, also the cost and risks during the journey.
3. Execution
During the execution phase, the team members complete the tasks that have been outlined in the project plan. Now, where does the project manager come into the picture?
Well, the manager’s job here is to assign these tasks identified in the project plan and ensure these tasks are completed within tie without affecting quality.
4. Monitoring and controlling
Well, although this has been listed as the fourth point, monitoring and controlling happen simultaneously right from the beginning of the project planning till closing the project.
How do you ask? Well, in this phase project managers have to
- Monitor the progress of the ongoing project.
- Manage the project budget.
- Ensure that key milestones are achieved.
- Compare planned and actual performance.
5. Closing the project
During this phase, the project manager ensures all the final activities before closing the project. This includes:
- Work with the client for the formal sign-off.
- Release resources – money, material, and human resources, that are no longer needed.
- Review the work of third-party vendors and close their contracts.
- Archive necessary project files for future reference.
You must have gotten a brief idea about the roles and responsibilities a project manager has to serve. It is a job that requires staying updated with market trends and technologies and hone your communication and leadership skills along with handling crisis management and decision-making power.
Learn more about what goes on in a day of project manager, get the insider’s view, and acquire skills from the industry experts. You can do so by enrolling in online courses by professionals and industry experts. Start your journey today.