Hot skills alert tips for landing a plum project managers job

Link: http://www.cio.com/article/2933485/it-skills/hot-skills-alert-tips-for-landing-a-plum-project-managers-job.html

Managing a software implementation project is often thought of as a job requiring knowledge about software. While some (detailed) knowledge of software is requiring, the main focus is actually on being able to identify tasks, to estimate and allocate the correct time and resources for those tasks and to monitor progress. While this seems just like an ordinary management job, this article talks about how interpersonal skills can make the difference between being successful and a project to become a failure.

One of the first assignments for this class is to create a schedule WBS, effectively breaking a larger project into smaller, manageable pieces, and put them in the right order. Though this can be a daunting task for a large project, it usually isn’t the part upon which a project manager fails. A project becomes usually more challenging once tasks have been handed out to people or teams for execution. This is in part because in the software industry the project manager is often not in direct control of the people who the manager works with. In order to get things done, a project manager will have to be very convincing in communicating goals such that people are motivated to complete project tasks in a timely matter.

The article also talks about that project management is often a skill that is learned on the job. While classes like MIS 441 are nowadays available to students, many people become project managers by getting involved in a project. For these people it is not uncommon to start their involvement as an experienced user of a particular software product and becoming involved in product upgrades. People who are knowledgeable, cooperative and show leadership and those teams might be asked to become a manager on a future project.

As an IT professional myself, I have been involved in many software projects and have noticed that the best projects were those that were headed by someone who is both knowledgeable and is able to guide others through leadership. In my opinion leadership is effective when someone not only knows what needs to be done but also knows how to communicate this.