What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

1
What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• (Survey to supplement the B. Z. Posner article,
  What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager,
  from the 1987 issue of the Project Management
  Journal)
• by
• Brian Campbell, PM
• W. G. Yates Sons Company
• Marbella Construction Site
• Destin, Florida

2
What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• This Research Study is based upon a survey of 287
  Professional Project Managers
• Typical PM is a male age 37
• The survey questions consider PM Problems and PM
  Skills

3
What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Survey Question
• What factors are most likely to cause problems in
  managing a project?

4
What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Eight Most Frequently Mentioned Problems
• Inadequate Resources
• Meeting (Unrealistic) Deadlines
• Unclear Goals/Direction
• Uncommitted Team Members
• Insufficient Planning
• Breakdown of Communications
• Changes in Goals and Resources
• Conflicts between Department or Functions
• Lack of Clear Goals Clear Directions lies at
  the heart of these problems!

5
What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Survey Question
• What personal characteristics, traits, or skills
  make for an above average Project Manager?

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What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Skills
• Communication Skills (84 mentioned)
• Listens
• Persuades
• Organizational Skills (75 mentioned)
• Plans
• Sets Goals
• Analyzes
• continued

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What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Skills
• Team Building (72 mentioned)
• Has Empathy
• Motivates
• Promotes Esprit de corps
• Leadership (68 mentioned)
• Sets a good example
• Is Energetic
• Has Vision (big picture)
• Delegates (relates back to Organizational Skills)
• Is Positive
• continued

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What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Skills
• Coping Skills (59 mentioned)
• Is Flexibile
• Is Creative
• Is Patient
• Is Persistent
• Technological Skills (46 mentioned)
• Has Experience
• Has Project Knowledge

9
What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Observations
• Successful Project Managers can remain focused
  (They stay on track)
• Problem Finding is more important than Problem
  Resolution
• Seldom are Project Managers Technical Experts

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What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Observations
• The issue of Problems and Skills finds that the
  two perspectives are fundamentally compatible
• The Primary Problems for Project Managers are
  human in nature, not technical

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What it Takes to be a Good Project Manager

• Conclusion
• The training of Project Managers should focus on
  those identified skills required to deal with the
  Typical Problems encountered.