What is Project Manager? Project Manager Responsibilities and Role - AIMS Education

AIMS Education, UK

3 Aug 201602:05

Summary

TLDRThe video script highlights the pivotal role of a project manager in achieving project objectives. It underscores the need for a project manager to plan, organize, and manage daily activities, ensuring timely delivery of project outcomes to clients. The script emphasizes the importance of various competencies, including knowledge in project management, performance capabilities, and interpersonal skills such as leadership, communication, and conflict resolution. These skills are crucial for navigating stakeholder relationships and leading teams to project success.

Takeaways

📈 The project manager is assigned by the performing organization to lead the team and achieve project objectives.
🛠️ They are responsible for managing the project processes and applying tools and techniques to execute project activities.
📋 Good project managers should possess a variety of skills to effectively manage projects.
📈 Typical responsibilities include planning and organizing work, managing day-to-day activities, delivering project deliverables, and identifying stakeholders.
💡 Effective project management requires a blend of knowledge, performance, and personal attributes from the project manager.
🤝 Interpersonal skills are crucial for project managers, as they work through the project team and other stakeholders.
👥 Some highly desirable interpersonal skills include leadership, team building, motivation, communication, influencing, decision-making, political and cultural awareness, negotiation, trust building, conflict management, and coaching.
🧩 Project managers accomplish work through the collective effort of the project team and other stakeholders, highlighting the importance of collaboration.
🔍 Identifying potential stakeholders is a key responsibility that impacts the project's success by ensuring all relevant parties are considered.
🏆 Delivering project deliverables to the client on time and as per the agreed-upon specifications is a critical aspect of a project manager's role.

Q & A

Who is typically assigned the role of a project manager?
-A project manager is typically assigned by the performing organization to lead the team and guide the project to success.
What is the primary responsibility of a project manager?
-The primary responsibility of a project manager is to achieve the project objectives by managing the project processes and applying tools and techniques to carry out project activities.
What are the typical responsibilities of a project manager?
-Typical responsibilities of a project manager include planning and organizing work, managing day-to-day activities, delivering project deliverables to clients, and identifying potential stakeholders.
What competencies are required for effective project management?
-Effective project management requires competencies such as knowledge of project management, performance in applying that knowledge, and personal skills in how the project manager behaves during project activities.
What interpersonal skills are highly desirable for a project manager?
-Highly desirable interpersonal skills for a project manager include leadership, team building, motivation, communication, influencing, decision-making, political and cultural awareness, negotiation, trust building, conflict management, and coaching.
How do project managers accomplish work?
-Project managers accomplish work through the project team and other stakeholders, leveraging their interpersonal skills to guide and motivate the team towards achieving project goals.
What is the significance of leadership skills for a project manager?
-Leadership skills are significant for a project manager as they enable them to guide, inspire, and direct the project team, ensuring that the project stays on track and meets its objectives.
How does a project manager use communication skills in their role?
-A project manager uses communication skills to effectively convey information, listen to team members and stakeholders, and ensure that everyone is aligned with the project goals and updates.
Why is negotiation a crucial skill for project managers?
-Negotiation is a crucial skill for project managers because it allows them to reach agreements, resolve conflicts, and secure resources or support needed for the project's success.
What role does trust building play in a project manager's responsibilities?
-Trust building plays a vital role in a project manager's responsibilities as it fosters a collaborative environment, encourages open communication, and ensures that team members and stakeholders are committed to the project's success.
How can a project manager effectively manage conflicts within a project team?
-A project manager can effectively manage conflicts within a project team by employing conflict resolution techniques, promoting open communication, and fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Role and Skills of a Project Manager

The paragraph discusses the pivotal role of a project manager, who is tasked with leading a team and ensuring the successful completion of a project. They are responsible for planning and organizing work, managing daily activities, delivering project outputs to clients, and engaging with stakeholders. Effective project managers need a diverse skill set, including knowledge of project management principles, the ability to perform tasks (performance), and personal attributes that affect their behavior in a project environment. Key competencies highlighted are leadership, team building, motivation, communication, influencing, decision-making, political and cultural awareness, negotiation, trust building, conflict management, and coaching.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Project Manager

A Project Manager is an individual assigned by the performing organization to lead a team and oversee the successful completion of a project. In the context of the video, the Project Manager is central to achieving project objectives and is responsible for managing the project processes. They apply various tools and techniques to ensure the project activities are carried out effectively, as indicated by the phrase 'project manager is responsible for achieving the project objectives'.

💡Project Objectives

Project Objectives are the specific goals that a project aims to accomplish. They guide the project's direction and are used to measure its success. The video emphasizes the importance of the Project Manager in achieving these objectives, highlighting their role in ensuring that the project meets its intended outcomes.

💡Project Processes

Project Processes refer to the series of interrelated tasks and activities that are systematically carried out to achieve project objectives. The video mentions that project managers are responsible for managing these processes, which involves planning, executing, and controlling various aspects of the project to ensure it progresses as planned.

💡Tools and Techniques

Tools and Techniques are the instruments and methods used by project managers to facilitate project management. They can include software for project tracking, risk management frameworks, and communication strategies. The video script implies that project managers apply these tools and techniques to carry out project activities effectively.

💡Day-to-Day Activities

Day-to-Day Activities in a project context refer to the routine tasks and operations that need to be managed on an ongoing basis. The video script mentions that project managers are responsible for managing these activities, which could include scheduling, resource allocation, and team coordination.

💡Project Deliverables

Project Deliverables are the tangible and intangible outputs that a project is expected to produce. They are the measurable results of a project and are often specified in the project's scope. The video emphasizes the project manager's responsibility to deliver these to the client, indicating the importance of meeting client expectations and ensuring project success.

💡Stakeholders

Stakeholders are individuals or groups who have an interest or are affected by the project. The video script mentions the project manager's role in identifying potential stakeholders, which is crucial for understanding who needs to be involved or informed during the project lifecycle.

💡Knowledge

Knowledge, in the context of the video, refers to the theoretical understanding and practical know-how that a project manager possesses about project management. It's what the project manager knows about project management, which is essential for guiding the project team and making informed decisions.

💡Performance

Performance in this video script refers to the ability of the project manager to apply their knowledge and skills to achieve project goals. It's about what the project manager can accomplish with their project management knowledge, as highlighted by the phrase 'what the project manager is able to do or accomplish with his project management knowledge'.

💡Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal Skills are the abilities that enable a project manager to interact effectively with others. The video lists several desirable interpersonal skills such as leadership, team building, and communication. These skills are crucial for a project manager to accomplish work through the project team and other stakeholders, as indicated by the mention of 'project managers accomplish work through the project team and other stakeholders'.

💡Leadership

Leadership is the ability to guide, direct, and influence a team towards achieving the project's goals. The video script underscores the importance of leadership as one of the highly desirable interpersonal skills of a project manager, suggesting that leading the project team effectively is a key aspect of project management.

💡Communication

Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings among team members and stakeholders. The video script includes communication as a vital interpersonal skill for project managers, highlighting its importance in ensuring that all parties are informed and aligned with the project's progress and objectives.

Highlights

The project manager is assigned to lead the team and is responsible for achieving project objectives.

Project managers manage project processes and use tools and techniques to execute project activities.

Good project managers should possess a variety of skills to manage projects effectively.

Typical responsibilities of project managers include planning and organizing work, managing day-to-day activities, delivering project deliverables, and identifying stakeholders.

Effective project management requires the project manager to have knowledge about project management.

Performance involves what the project manager can accomplish with their knowledge and skills.

Personal behavior is crucial when performing project-related activities.

Interpersonal skills are essential for project managers to work through the project team and other stakeholders.

Leadership is a highly desirable interpersonal skill for project managers.

Team building is important for the success of a project.

Motivation is key to driving the project team towards achieving goals.

Communication skills are vital for project managers to convey information effectively.

Influencing is necessary for project managers to guide and shape the project's direction.

Decision-making is a critical competency for project managers to make timely and effective choices.

Political and cultural awareness helps project managers navigate the organizational landscape.

Negotiation skills are important for project managers to reach agreements and resolve conflicts.

Trust building is essential for creating a collaborative and supportive team environment.

Conflict management is necessary for maintaining harmony within the project team.

Coaching is a valuable skill for project managers to develop the capabilities of their team members.