Definition of a Project Manager

00:02 Great. Now we know what a project is, a temporary initiative that is agreed, planned and executed to achieve a specific goal.

00:11 So once we have our project and that project has been selected by the Board of Directors as the current initiative, it's down to one person to make sure that project's execution is successful.

00:23 Can you guess who that one person is? The project manager.

00:27 That's who. What exactly is their role? Let's discuss. The project manager is the CEO of the project. They will be accountable for the project success and for a project to be successful, it needs to accomplish the specific goal of the project within the prior agreed time and budget constraints.

00:48 Everything needs to fit neatly into the project management triple constraint triangle, which we looked at in the first lesson, remember.

00:56 In fact, by assuming the project manager position for a project, the project manager implicitly agrees to work within these constraints and still meet the goal.

01:07 Now that's a big responsibility.

01:09 What if the time frame and budget are insufficient? A project manager can't shoot themselves in the foot and take on a project that is unlikely to be successful.

01:19 Therefore, when the project management triple constraints are put in place, they must be realistic.

01:25 It is the project manager's duty to assess a project and deem the constraints practical or otherwise. And if otherwise, they must demonstrate why to whoever proposed the project and negotiate for additional time, resources or an adjustment to the goal itself.

01:42 Of course, a project manager is well within their rights to refuse to head a project if they feel the difference between the set constraints and the realistic expectations is too large. In real life.

01:53 However, the time and resources will usually be just enough to complete the goal. The project manager's job then is to best utilize them. And this is by no means an easy task.

02:06 And often project managers will be accountable for multiple projects at the same time. Okay.

02:13 So we've been throwing around the term accountable, but never actually defined it.

02:18 What does it mean to be accountable? The formal definition would be to commit to achieve a certain result and then deliver this commitment.

02:29 Simple enough, but a lot easier said than done.

02:34 Let's shed light on the magnitude of this commitment.

02:39 Project managers are accountable not only for their own tasks, but also all the tasks that other parties must work on and complete.

02:48 This includes the project team members, support functions, managers, vendors and other stakeholders.

02:54 Any work that is important for the progress of the project to achieve successful completion of the project.

03:00 The manager needs to have full control and visibility on all project related work and take actions immediately when identifying something is not progressing on track.

03:09 They will be on hand to help others overcome their barriers and keep them motivated all on top of their personal daily duties.

03:18 Wow. Who would be crazy or brave enough to take on such accountability? Your friendly neighborhood project manager.

03:25 That's who. But they do have some weapons up their sleeve.

03:30 Their skills, knowledge and expertise.

03:33 These will help them make the best decisions and direct the work in the right direction.

03:38 But more about that in the next lesson.