Name: Neil Naidoo
Age:
41
Occupation: Project manager
What is project management?
In today’s dynamic global business environment, organisations are forced to deliver fast, low-cost, high-quality products and services to their customers. To meet these demands, unique undertakings initiated in organisations have to be handled as projects. As the awareness of project management spreads, an increasing number of organisations are adopting the techniques of the profession. Implementing project management involves the human element, which is the allocation and development of project teams.
What is the role of a project manager?
A project manager is a person who is appointed to manage a project through its life cycle and ensure successful delivery.
Is a technical manager a project manager?
It is “nice” for project managers to have the technical skills for their projects but this is not a prerequisite. The project manager has to be competent in managing all aspects of the project.
Are there any special attributes that a project manager should have?
Project managers must possess good leadership, people and communication skills. They must be analytical, precise, effective decision-makers and have foresight. They should be able to work under pressure and be able to handle stressful situations. Project managers must carry themselves in a professional manner and should be neutral.
What is the typical day of a project manager like?
Meetings, meetings, meetings and meetings!
What are these meetings about?
Outsiders often say that we never get to see these project managers because they are constantly in meetings. Project stakeholders say “not him again”. At face value this looks ridiculous but look at the type of meetings that a project manager attends: project start-up workshops, definition workshops, planning workshops, resource negotiation, team building, progress and change-control meetings, transition management, roadshows/presentations, conflict resolution, vendor screening, subcontractor control, audits, phase-end reviews, handover sessions, close-out meetings etc.
How does one become a project manager?
Being a fairly new profession, not many organisations consider project management to be a career and do not have any career path for the profession. The logical progression of a person within project management is:
– To be a project team member.
– To be a project leader of one or many teams.
– To be a sub-project manager who manages a subsection of a project.
– And finally to be able to manage an entire project.
During this progression you will also require education in the field of project management.
What advice do you have for anyone wishing to become a project manager?
Project management is the model for organisations to remain competitive and sustain themselves, so, executives, go ahead and change your strategies and develop your people in the profession.
Damelin Management School offers a course in project management. For details, call 0860 326-3456
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, August 2001.