Who would be a project manager?

What is a (digital) project manager for? Who would be one? Why do we need them?

Very interesting questions for which many designers and developers have an opinion but not always commercially realistic answers. If you are a web designer/ developer/ freelancer, can you, summarise in two or three succinct sentences the remit of a project manager?

I have worked as a developer and a project manager. I even have a dumb ass but highly acclaimed (for some strange reason) project management qualification. But when I thought about it, it was challenging for me to answer my original three questions above; particularly, who would be one? I am not even sure how I came to be one to be honest. But having worked as both a project manager and a strategic project manager, I must say I have gained a lot of professional satisfaction for successfully delivering a number of large scale web and IT projects.

But it is important for efficient, successful and cohesive team workflow that people do know their specific job roles and responsibilities. That includes knowing the valuable but often underestimated role that a project manager plays.

So, I will leave you with two things. First, my highly technical summary sentence about the role and purpose of a project manager. That is…”a project manager is the glue that holds it all together”. Rubbish I know, but with a strong element of truth.

Secondly, I would urge you to download and listen to the Boagworld podcast number 158 called “Home” from http://boagworld.com/podcast/158/. About 20 minutes in, there is an interview with Headscape’s project manager (former technical lead) who describes and discusses not only the role of a project manager but what makes a good one.

Happy listening!