Project Manager

The Project Manager manages a project on a day-to-day basis and is the only one with this day-to-day focus on the project. As a result, this role can never be shared. The Project Manager runs the project on behalf of the Project Board within specified constraints and liaises throughout the project with the Project Board and Project Assurance . The Project Manager usually (preferred by PRINCE2) comes from the customer. They are responsible for all of the PRINCE2 processes except for the Directing a Project and Managing Product Delivery process.

The Project Manager is responsible for the Project Support and Team Manager roles. In smaller projects where there are no Team Managers, the Project Manager will manage the Team Members directly, and where there is no Project Support, the support tasks fall on the Project Manager.

What kind of skills do you think a Project Manager should have?

They need to have good communication, cost management, an ability to understand the quality process, process change requests, document user needs, monitor the project, as well as planning, leadership and team-building qualities, including teamwork, problem-solving, reporting, facilitating meetings and conducting workshops. They must be proactive (anticipate things) and not sit around and waiting for things to happen.

Which other roles can the Project Manager perform?

The Project Manager may take in the role of Project Support, Team Manager (if they have specialist knowledge) and Change Authority (if permitted by the Project Board).