Project management is taking a project from a goal to a finished thing. It’s about being able to see the big picture, stay focused, and help support diverse teams of stakeholders to do what’s needed to get to that end point.
Project management includes a wide range of tasks and responsibilities, like:
- Budgeting
- Scheduling
- Rostering
- Briefing staff
- Coaching and training
- Motivating
- Organising teams
- Coordinating activities
- Risk analysis
- Monitoring progress
- Reviewing contracts
- Reporting to clients/executives
What is a project manager?
Many people associate PM work with architecture, construction, and engineering. But really, any project work of a particular scale can benefit from management and leadership. One example is product development. A project manager developing a new product starts with the goal (the new product, with certain characteristics) and coordinates the technicians, researchers and administrators necessary to bring the product to life. One area of project management that’s growing particularly fast is ICT project management. This broad field includes both software and infrastructure, like computers, servers, and networks.
Project managers are often needed when there are more than two or three stakeholders in a project. This might mean a few different people working on the project, or lots of suppliers, or more than one client. In short, it’s the project manager’s job to know what’s going on, and who’s doing what at any one time.
The good news is that when you study project management, you don’t need to choose a specialty. The skills you learn in a VET course are transferable to a range of different projects and employers.
What kinds of people can be project managers?
Because project managers always work in teams, they need to be team players. It’s not generally the kind of work that suits someone who likes to do their own thing. Being a team player in this context means communicating with other people, supporting and encouraging them, managing risks, solving conflicts, and enjoying the sense of achievement as a group.
Project managers need to be good at planning and delegating. Good PMs know how to brief different service providers, suppliers and staff on how to do their part in the project. Great PMs know how to inspire people, get them excited about the end goal, and make the most of the human resources available.
Still wondering if project management is for you? Chat to a Monarch Institute course consultant today on 1300 738 955 about the Diploma of Project management, and where it could take you.
