How is a Technical Project manager different from a Project Manager?
What skills are required to become a technical PM in IT/software? Saving Changes...
Technical Project Mangers typically have the knowledge to understand the Product/Service being developed. And most often can provide the technical suggestions to the team. Saving Changes...
I think the very nature of project management approach is generic. The beauty of this emerging science is it's capacity of getting mapped in almost all kinds of project scenarios. Project manager having technical knowledge of the project work is definitely an add-on. Technical knowledge and skills might go a long way in refining and utilizing the project management tools and skills. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Basically what that job description says to me is that the Project Manager is expected to be well-versed in the technologies used in the project. Saving Changes...
John SikorskiSenior Project Manager| Contractor working for TEKSystems as Senior PM for ExelonLombard, Il, United States
I can tell you what it means at my organization. You are expected to have an understanding of the project objectives from a technical perspective. This is always a good thing for IT projects, but in my role I need to be more involved in technical discussions, presentations and even decisions. For example, I was expected to prepare a document to present to our system architects for their review and approval for our project to move forward. I certainly didn't have all the answers, but my job was to reach out to the folks that did; understand what they were saying; provide my input; arrive at some logical conclusions and bring it all together into a coherent message. I don't believe you have to be a top expert in a particular field, but using your technical background, leadership skills, ability to learn and organize, and presentation skills, you should act as the unifying participant in the project. My role also includes all of the traditional aspects of project management - Managing schedule, scope and budget, and as always the most important aspect, communication. This perspective may not be universal, but as I mentioned earlier, it is how my role is defined within my current position.
...
1 reply by Eric Isom
Jul 12, 2018 8:06 PM
Eric Isom
...
I think that what John describes is a very healthy approach. It is good to have a strong background in the domain, but not necessarily the technical expert on the team. When organizations insist on the PM being the technical lead, they usually end up with second-rate project management, and don't even realize how much better their projects could be if they focused on their PMs being first and foremost strong project managers, with a reasonable amount of domain knowledge.
Saving Changes...
Shweta PaiScrum master| ResMedHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Ultimately, you are valuable if you are able to make smart decisions based on the situation in the project. Most often, you need to understand the business and technology used for driving the direction in the project. You are not required to know every line of code but have to understand the strategic technical and business view for being effective as a technical PM. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The critical thing to understand is that something project manager does not exist. What exist is a project manager performing the role in different domains. Along my personal experience I saw two critical issues: 1-each time a project manager is assigned to an initiative into an specific domain the project manager must get knowledge about the domain. That is not usually done. 2-when organizations talk about something project manager they are really talking about a subject matter expert that will perform project management role too. Saving Changes...
John SikorskiSenior Project Manager| Contractor working for TEKSystems as Senior PM for ExelonLombard, Il, United States
I thought I would add another comment. In my previous position I worked for a software company. I was involved with the release of a new software product. This demanded that I learned as much as I could about that product. You can't always know the most intricate details of the software, There is always the: "I'll get back to you on that" response when a client asks a question, but you had better know the basic principles and be able to participate in design discussions, especially in the "Client" scenario. Even if you are surrounded by solution architects, you are expect to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the product. Saving Changes...
Project manager according to PMI Talent Triangle is the balance of management:-
of technical project management, leadership and strategic& business management.
Therefore technical project management sounds that he is is specialist with technical management. Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
As a technical project manager, my job requires a balance between managerial duties and advanced technological skills. Saving Changes...
Some PM's have knowledge in a particular domain and that can help. But theoretically SME's who know a lot more than you as a PM should be brought into these projects. Saving Changes...
