REVIEW

Dated: 06-032015

ON
THE PROJECT MANAGER BY PAUL O. GADDIS
Submitted 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 Industry

Project 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 here

Meeting specifications

Since 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 characteristics
In 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 preallocated 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 Planning
Besides 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 project management context, 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 Future

The 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.