characteristics of the effective project manager · characteristics of the effective project...
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www.dashdot.co.uk
Characteristics of the Effective Project Manager What is needed? What is available?
by Tom Taylor principal of dashdot joint founder of Buro Four President of APM
www.dashdot.co.uk
Characteristics of the Effective Project Manager
A different, stimulating approach
– to help individuals and organisations,
– for managers to confirm they are suitably focussed
– or want to become effective or even more effective
www.dashdot.co.uk
Characteristics of the Effective Project Manager
Demand and Supply Project Managers need to be versatile
they need a full palette of general knowledge
wide interests,
and positive personal characteristics
Yet the need for and application of these characteristics vary with:
the type of project/sector
the abilities of the project team
the needs of the client customer
and the stage of the project
www.dashdot.co.uk
Characteristics of the Effective Project Manager
Primary Groupings of Characteristics (in 3 groups) Leadership, Direction and Management Reporting, Resolution and Risk Control, Contacts and Contract
For self assessment For interviewing candidiates For staff reviews
‘Demand’ – for each characteristic, what is the level of requirement 0 to 10
‘Supply’ – and what is available, provided, on offer 0 to 10 Are there any differences? Are they significant? Does anything need to be done? – what? – when?
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Leadership, Direction and Management (A1)
Consider Leadership
in teams, of projects, of programmes,
confidence in the leaders
or confident leaders
“The Charismatic Leader”
“A self-made, natural-born leader”.
So What level of Leadership Talent is required?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Leadership, Direction and Management (A2)
Need a Strategist?
thinking ahead
the big picture
thinking behind
“The Strategist”
“He is thinking about the future
– someone has to”
Does the Project Manager need to be the Project Strategist as part of the role?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Leadership, Direction and Management (A3)
Helpfulness to the client
too helpful/supportive?
too independent?
“The Puppet”
“The glient gould ‘ike more gredd
and gutter”
To what extent should the Project Manager appear to be independently minded while still representing his employer?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Leadership, Direction and Management (A4)
Solving Problems
by themselves?
through their team?
“The Problem Solver”
“I’m here to sort out your problem”
To what extent is a good, effective problem solver required?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Leadership, Direction and Management (A5)
The Sheriff
does order need to be maintained?
is it an issue or requirement?
“The Sheriff”
“Yep. Sometimes a Project Manager has
got to do what a Project Manager
has got to do. Yep”“
Will the Project Manager need to do and be seen to do the right thing in difficult or sensitive circumstances?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Leadership, Direction and Management (A6)
Experience needed?
optional?
essential?
experience of what?
“The Trainee”
“It only needs practice”.
To what extent is Project Management experience relevant?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Reporting, Resolution and Risk (B1)
Record Keeping
as a task – administration
as an interest – project conscience
“The Diarist”
“Record what needs to be
recorded – only”
Will the Project Manager also need to be the practising administrator?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Reporting, Resolution and Risk (B2)
Communicator
prompt and direct
careful and selective
“The Postman”
“Right message, right means,
right destination, right response”
Is management of the communication mediums and content an important issue?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Reporting, Resolution and Risk (B3)
Negotiations
in the middle/facilitator
one side or other
disengaged/remote
(see Problem Solver)
“The Negotiator”
“Being somewhere near the middle?”
Will negotiation and dispute resolution skills and application be needed?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Reporting, Resolution and Risk (B4)
Stirring up
to avoid complacency
to motivate
to get things going
“The Stirrer”
“The ingredients will not do it by themselves”.
To what extent must the Project Manager push things along and stir things up?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Reporting, Resolution and Risk (B5)
Risk
as threats
as opportunities
identification
action
“The Risk Specialist”
“What are the chances of that happening?”.
Does the Project Manager need particular Risk Management abilities?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Reporting, Resolution and Risk (B6)
Knowledgability
of information
of people
of processes
“The Magnet (for information)”
“Information? – I got it!”
Will the Project Manager(s) need to be involved in and knowledgeable of all the day to day activities and issues?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Control Contacts and Contract (C1)
Cost Expertise
of costs
of value
of budget
“The Cost Reporter”
“*Money isn’t everything/ Money is
everything” (*Delete as required)
What level of fiscal expertise is required?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Control Contacts and Contract (C2)
Contracts
orders
appointments
producing
applying
“The Contract Specialist”
“Locating the big, medium and
small print”.
How much of such contract specialist knowledge and application is required of the Project Manager?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Control Contacts and Contract (C3)
Technician
expert
familiar
ignorant
“The Technician”
“A little knowledge can go a long way”.
How much technical and sector knowledge is required of the Project Manager?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Control Contacts and Contract (C4)
Time
planning
programming
monitoring
managing time
“The Timekeeper”
“Time only goes one way”
What level of time programming and time management is required?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Control Contacts and Contract (C5)
“The PM with Contacts”
“Those special connections – know
what I mean – say no more”.
Connections
know the team
know the industry
‘well-connected’
To what extent does the Project Manager need to have ‘commercial’ know how?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Control Contacts and Contract (C6)
Technology
for the project
within the project
to be a manager
“The Computer Buff”
“This is such fun”.
To what extent are computer skills and knowledge required of the Project Manager for this project or post?
And what is available, provided, on offer?
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Conclusion 1
A different, stimulating approach
– to help individuals and organisations,
– for managers to confirm they are suitably focussed
– or want to become effective or even more effective
www.dashdot.co.uk
Conclusion 2
Demand and Supply Project Managers need to be versatile
they need a full palette of general knowledge
wide interests,
and positive personal characteristics
Yet the need for and application of these characteristics vary with:
the type of project/sector
the abilities of the project team
the needs of the client customer
and the stage of the project
www.dashdot.co.uk
Conclusion 3
Review the presentation / book.
Do the exercise.
Think about it.
Do something about the situation?
(Do the exercise again when required.)
So what is required?!
And what have you got to offer?!
Best wishes.
Tom Taylor.
41 Sherard Court 3 Manor Gardens London N7 6FA Tel: 07831 675484 www.dashdot.co.uk
300 St. John Street London EC1V 4PP
Tel: 020 7833 8663 Fax: 020 7833 8560 www.burofour.co.uk
Summerleys Road Princess Risborough HP27 9LE
Tel: 0845 458 1944 Fax: 0845 458 8807 www.apm.org
www.tomtaylor.info