
“Project manager wanted for a challenging project” – the request sounds promising. Whoever accepts it may live to regret it, however.
A project can be coordinated, led, or managed. So, before accepting a job as a project coordinator, a project leader, or a project manager, you should be aware of the different aspects of these activities. Depending on the specification other skills are required, and there is some significant divergence of opinions about the vacant role by both the customer and the project manager. The following table gives a brief overview. It can be used as a checklist for project candidates to assess the essence of the advertised task quickly.Project Coordinator | Project Leader | Project Manager | |
Budget responsibility | none | none to partial | complete |
Say in team building and team management | none | partial | complete |
Formal authority | none | medium | high |
Overview of the scheduling | dependent on various supervising managers | dependent on a few line managers (e.g. head of the department) | full control of all activities |
Focus of the team target agreement | project neutral | partially project, partially hierarchic | project centered |
Duration of appointment | without a solid target | usually with a time target | with a time target |
Profit sharing of the project manager | never | rarely | subject to negotiation |
Escalation paths | project staff -> organization hierarchy | various mixed forms | project staff -> project manager -> organization hierarchy |
Most important skills | Excel, Word, punctuality | additionally, MS Project, adjusting and keeping schedules, joining the conversation about contents | additionally: resource management, leadership, expertise, various aspects of project management |
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I am a project manager (Project Manager Professional, PMP), a Project Coach, a management consultant, and a book author. I have worked in the software industry since 1992 and as a manager consultant since 1998. Please visit my United Mentors home page for more details. Contact me on LinkedIn for direct feedback on my articles.
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