Dated: 06-03-2015REVIEWONTHE PROJECT MANAGER BY PAUL O.
GADDISSubmitted by: Muhammad Noor, Engineering Project Management
(EPM)In the technological advancement, and execution of huge
complex projects the role of project manager is vital. In broad
spectrum if we analyze the report it is clear that project manager
is responsible for managing overall project from start to finish
product. He is equipped with skillful manpower from different
trades and specialty involved in different stages from concept to
initial test operation and manufacturing stages. To execute
projects successfully, special consideration of project manager
should be focused on advanced technology industry. For this
following may be included; Scope/ responsibility of project manager
in advance technology industry Specialty of manpower required by
him Preliminary Training needs of the project team to execute a
project Different resources availability
Role of Project Manager in IndustryProject Manager in an
organization plays a key role and has an overall control over
different stages of the project. Some of the works that he
performed in new industry are discussed hereMeeting
specificationsSince in advance technology industry, complex
projects are undertaken and the final product is obtained after a
number of phases, the most important in which is that the final
deliverables should meets desired specifications .most of the
operating companies/ firms did not itself adopt new research
finding in advance technology industry, here project manager play
his part by creating such kind of environment that operating
organization easily take benefits from the recent research
activities and implements it for better result.A project can be
more precisely termed as an organization unit which has some
deliverables/ goals to be obtained. A successful project is one
which is completed in due time, in specified budget and meets the
desired specifications. Two approaches in project development can
be Adopted: Organized by tasks (vertical approach) Organized by
function (horizontal approach)Vertical structure/approach is mainly
control, by autonomous management and horizontal structure/
approach which is relatively more flexible and continuous is
control by technical group. The project manager takes the advantage
of both for achieving the organizational goal.Unique
characteristicsIn contrast to the organizations in which project
management activities is carried out by project engineer who face a
lot of difficulties in handling different staff with diverse
behaviors, a project manager is more suitable for handling overall
management and personnel responsibility.The project manager job is
different in advance technology industry from the conventional
manager in the sense that he is interfacing with people of
different profession and field of specialty. In such situation he
must have basics knowledge in different field of studies. Project
manager needs a unique quality of managing different professional
employees of an organization. Sometime he may modify the classical
management function of control, coordination, communication and
observing performance standards. Hence the general boss and
sub-ordinate relationship may be transforming to a new shape for
understanding the ground realities of achieving the project goals.
Multiple examples can b quoted in this regards to understand the
unique role of project manager. For example in public sector
organization where employees are employed on regular basis, a
majority of the lower staff personnel are not willing to performs
their duties according to strict scheduled for the completion of
different phases of a project, another examples is shortage of
manpower and resources shortage, most of the time just writing note
or official request to higher authorities for lake of resources is
not entertained so quickly. In such situation it is the unique
quality of project manager to convince lower staff employees by
having some relaxation in another way by understanding their
attitude. Also pursuing himself different cases of resource
availabilities form higher authorities may solve problem
easily.Another feature of project manager in advance technology
industry is blind flying, he did not have feedbacks at initial
stage of the project and needs to rely on his experience, faith and
judgment to acquire initial test results. This can be further use
as feedbacks to achieve the desire product. Here risk factor is
treated as fact of life, because in mot project there is
uncertainty in the initial stages of projects but a project going
toward maturity, the risk factor is minimized.Another feature of
project manager is authority and responsibility. He must be clear
about the power/ authority because his basic responsibility is to
deliver the end products. He must also be aware of responsibilities
and performance of sub manager working in different group under his
administrative control.The project manager is a man of action
playing on front of an organization. He brings momentum in all
stages of a project. Situation like dead center should be avoided
by him to keep the things moving and align activities.Since a
project has deliverables within a specified time period and pre-
allocated budget, it must be closed on some point after achieving
goals. The project manager may face circumstances where theoretical
engineers/scientist may emphasis on more precise results and
further analysis which may result in delay at some stage which
undesirable according to scheduled of the projects. In such
situation the project manager is responsible to handle such
perfections and take strict decisions to avoid any delay in the
scheduled of deliverables. Many examples in this regard can be
quoted ranging from nuclear industry to various scientific and
R&D organizations.Organization PlanningBesides daily work load
of a project the project manager should be a good planner to plan
the organizational structure from within the project or parents
organizations. He must know the art of planning, how to utilize
available engineer & scientist in best way in a scientific
organization. He must resolve crisis arise during different stages
of a project in advance planning.The project manager should be
sound in selling and reselling activities. He should be able to
prepare and deliver presentation on short notice. Most importantly
he is man between top management and technologist.In
projectmanagementcontext, projectitis is kind of behavior or
feeling that an individual suffers from due to deep attachment with
a project.For example, a project team member work on a project for
reasonably long and enjoyed working a lot. Now project is going to
complete and the team has to be dismantled, the psychological
depression this member goes through is called
projectitis.Projectitis occurs when project team members form
strong attachments to the project and the project begins to take on
a life of its own. In such situations, the team members may:
Actually become more loyal to the project and other team members
than to the sponsoring organization. Feel depress as the project is
near to complete. Some key adverse result of projectitis includes:
Technological advancement will suffer The human resource efficiency
and productivity effected. Increased costs due to the delayed
project completion. The delay of other projects that depend on the
afflicted project.The project manager dealing with technical staff
must not suffer or appear to suffer from projectitis to handles
project schedule and policy objectives. Communication in the field
of project management plays key importance. A theoretical
scientist/ engineer may not consider it so much and will emphasis
on technical dept but for a project manager free communication
within an organization is very important.The project manager should
obtain the confidence of professional employees regarding the
policy of the organization of starting of new project in future for
their employees. This will enhance performance of professional
employees as well as smooth running of the project scheduled.To
perform integrative function in a project, the project manager must
possess knowledge of advance technology management. He must have
fundamentals knowledge of many fields of science, general
management problems especially marketing, contract work, law,
personnel administration and profitability. He must be teach, train
and develop supervisors working under his control.If we compare the
job of advance technology manager and that of a research
administrator, it is obvious that the two have differences in their
nature of job. The project manager tactical role is closely related
to line operating management. While the research administrator is
leading engineers and scientists in a research program which has
broaden horizons. Also research administrator only submits a
progress report when some advancement is made in research
program/activity. However in advance technology project, regular
progress reports are submitted by project manager. Any report
showing absence of advancement in regular progress reporting period
is the key indicator of showing trouble to project management. Role
in the FutureThe challenges facing today by industries, business
firms, enterprises, public sector organizations in different areas
will be covered by adopting the leading role of project managers in
these organizations. This will be useful for the future progress
and development of our country.
