A project manager is an individual who manages a project from start to finish. The project manager is responsible for managing all tasks, timelines, developers, people, and budgets involved in a project. While some projects may only require one project manager, larger projects may require several individuals dedicated to their success.
This project management tutorial discusses what a project manager does, what their roles are in a software development team, how they help achieve goals, and more.
What is a Project Manager?
A project manager is the person who oversees and directs a project. The project manager is responsible for building the project plan, communicating with all parties, coordinating with team members, developers, and stakeholders, and keeping the project on budget.
Project managers plan, organize, and manage the resources necessary to achieve a specific goal. Moreover, a project manager ensures that projects are completed within time and budget and comply with quality standards. Project managers usually work closely with developers, testers, architects, and other stakeholders.
A project manager should be able to keep the team focused on the end goal, manage the project to ensure that it is completed on time and within budget, act as a mentor and coach to your team members, lead the team by example and make decisions based on what is best for the company.
A project manager should be able to manage communications and interactions within and across teams in the organization. In addition to these responsibilities, you will need to take action when risks arise or other issues arise that could impede the progress of your project.
A successful project manager must have strong organizational skills, be able to effectively communicate with all parties involved in the project, and have a keen eye for detail. Project managers must also be able to adapt to changes that occur throughout the course of a project, as well as manage risks that could potentially impact the success of the project.
Read: How to Become a Project Manager
What are the Goals of a Project Manager?
Here is the list of the goals at a glance:
- Productivity and performance improvements for projects
- Build your team and lead it
- Enhance team communication and collaboration
- Establish deadlines and monitor project progress
- Implement relevant initiatives in line with the company’s goals
- Enhance transparency and satisfaction among stakeholders
What are the Responsibilities of a Project Manager
A project manager typically has several key responsibilities, which include:
- Developing a project plan and managing it throughout the project/li>
- Establishing goals and objectives for each stage of your project/li>
- Planning and setting their budgets, schedules, and resources
- Choosing team members with complementary skills who can work together efficiently as a unit to achieve these goals and objectives
Read: Project Manager Interview Questions
What Roles Does a Project Manager Play?
The project manager will have various roles throughout their career, including:
- Problem Solver: A key part of being a successful project manager includes solving problems as they arise. This can be anything from conflicts between team members or outside influences such as vendors or customers that could affect your current timeline or budget.
- Team Leader: Another role is leader of their team members, who are working towards achieving common goals together with them. This means providing guidance for each member on how best to accomplish their tasks within agreed upon guidelines set forth by yourself as well as management above you in order to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality workmanship etc.
Creating a Schedule and Timeline
As the project manager, you will be responsible for creating a schedule and timeline for the project. This will involve working with the team to determine what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Schedules and timelines should be realistic and easily followed by the team.
After you have created the schedule and timeline, it is important to monitor the project to ensure that it is on schedule. This may involve making adjustments to the schedule as needed. It is also important to keep the team updated on the status of the project and any changes that have been made.
Managing the Budget Effectively
Here are some of the best practices that can be followed to manage the budget of a project effectively.
Create a Budget Plan
Once you know your numbers, you can create a budget plan that outlines how much money will be spent on each phase of the project. Having a budget plan will help you stay on track and avoid overspending in any one area.
Track Expenses Closely
As the project progresses, keep track of all expenses closely. This will allow you to detect any areas where expenses are rising and, if required, take remedial action.
Communicate with Stakeholders Regularly
Keeping stakeholders informed of the project’s progress and financial status is crucial to maintaining their support throughout the duration of the project Serving as the liaison among all stakeholders.
The role of the project manager is to serve as the liaison among all stakeholders in a project. This includes the sponsors, the customers, the vendors, and the project team.
Provide Status Updates
The project manager should provide updates on the project’s status, addressing concerns, and escalation issues when necessary. In addition to communication, the project manager also manages risk and conflict within the project.
They work to identify risks early on and create mitigation plans to reduce their impact. In cases of conflict, they work with all parties involved to reach a resolution that is acceptable to everyone.
Read: Project Management Software for Developers
Final Thoughts on Project Manager Roles and Goals
A project manager is responsible for a wide range of tasks and duties that contribute to the successful completion of a project. The main goal of a project manager is to take care of all aspects of the project while keeping everyone involved happy, so that everything goes smoothly without any unexpected delays or problems arising along the way.
A successful project manager should lead by example and influence (not manage) the team members with his or her competence and expertise. In this article, we’ve examined the key roles and goals of a project manager.
Read more project management tutorials and project management software reviews.
