9.I want to be a project manager

 

Exercise 10 .English Group In Chapter 8 (English Resources) there is an essay written by Annika. She was an IPGO former student. Please, read it. She really wanted to be a project Manager (probably, nowadays she could be). Her friends form a list of project examples to be managed for her. Could you help her? Your work is about to select at least two examples and apply Annika's concepts in these specific frameworks. Finally, you should elaborate a simple Gantt graph (check 'Gantt chart presentations example link') (An intriguing question, is she working as a project manager?)

 

List of the competences a project Manager has to be able to do:

• Leads the project
• Budgeting
• Plans the timetable
• Use different project tools
• Plans the resources
• Use project management techniques and processes
• Apply standard project management approaches to the specific requirements of the project
• Direct, manage and motivate the project team
• Develop and maintain an agreed project plan and detailed stage plan(s)
• Tailor expert knowledge to meet specific circumstances
• Plan and manage the deployment of resources to meet project milestones
• Build and sustain effective communications with other roles involved in the project as required Apply quality management principles and process

 

 

Let’s apply Anika’s concept of being a project Manager to the following projects:

1. To start a firm: sport center
2. research for a new product: chemistry

 

1) Let’s first imagine that we are a team, leaded by an operation manager. Let’s see in concrete examples how to apply Anika’s concept in order to start a firm: a sport centre.

It looks quite evident that a project Manger (starting from mow, we will say PM) has to lead the project. Let’s imagine that our company would be that of a shoe shop. Our goal is to sell sport shoes to clients.
But first, we have to study the viability of the project. His first task would then be to study the budget of the firm, and to see how much it has to borrow to start up.
In the case of the shoe company, what we need is to see, with the number of employees, how much we should spend. Shoes are very interesting because there is a possibility to sell them for prices with a good margin. For example, we can sell the shoes more than twice the price it costs us. The timetable would be like, first finding some sponsors, providers in 3 months, then knowing how much to spend before putting the shoe on the store.
Once that point has been seen, elaborating a timetable is the second necessary point.
Planning the resources is the following stage to follow to succeed in our project.
An important point is, if keeping the team in good terms applies to any project, the project Manager also needs to be able to specialise in the shoe technical aspect. First, if the shoe is made for such or such sport, like Running, Volleyball or Basketball or Tennis. And he should also know what the quality differences are, and how to sell the most expensive shoes.
Eventually, using project tools is of the upmost importance. Especially using the triangle model can be useful. For example, for the time deadline, you have to know what kind of shoes you should sell for which season. If Mickael Jordan would play an NBA contest next, getting Nike Basket shoes would be the top priority to sell them after his match.
Eventually, the project manager should build and sustain effective communications with other roles involved in the project as required, and apply quality management principles and process.

 

2) Let’s now imagine that we are in chemistry searching for a new product

First, the project manager has to know how much in R&D should be spent to find that new product. And most of all, knowing if ethically the product is acceptable is the top priority. Many searchers and biologists find and create new materials, new entities that could, used in the wrong way, be harmful for humans. The role of the project manager would be to get sure that, scientifically and ethically, no problems are raised.
Elaborating a schedule and a time table would also be important. The deadline in that case would be that of those who have asked that new product, and who finance the project. For that reason, a triangle model would one the best models to be used. Scoping the researches and the investment at the same time.
Motivating the team is also important, because looking for a new product in chemistry also means many intents, and many failures. Many people would get tired of looking for something and not finding it.

 

In both case, many aspects of the project manager that Annika explained are very important, and without them, you couldn’t even think of leading a project to its term.