When is a Project Manager not a Project Manager ?

I have seen that in many small companies in Middle East where the owner interfere in everything and will give no power to PM...

Well, as a Project Manager, not always will you get luxury to select the resources or define the budget. How efficiently does the project manager handle the project with the constraints is what matters. Identifying the constraints, recording it as a risk, publishing it to the stakeholders, showcasing the talent triangle is what a good project manager is all about. Success or Failure should not matter provided the project manager plans and executes the projects with the given constraints.. Applying, following and managing the systematic processes is what matters. If these were not followed, the Project Manager has to take up the responsibility for the failure. What do you think?

Mohamad,

If depends on the organizational structure. Some are Functional were the PM has least authority, others are Matrix organization so even within a weak, there is no authority for PM and he acts like a coordinator.

On the other hand, if the structure is Strong Matrix or Projectorized and the PM has no authority then thats a problem by itself in the organization. The PM in this case has to stand up for themselves, team and project.

Hi Rami,

Here was the main point, when the structure is strong matrix or projectized with no authority.

Then as much as it is an organizational problem, it is also the PM's problem because when he accepts such a position, he should be strong enough to put the dots on the letters with his influence, interpersonal and leadership skills. If he doesn't talk or push back then of course he will b blamed at the end. The project management world can be somehow wild.

A project is delivered by setting up a temporary structure within an organization. Because of its temporary nature the project does not have its own resources but instead uses resources that are owned by the permanent structures of the organization.

The permanent structures are managed by other people not project managers so this is the main reason that most PMs don't have authority over the resources. The resources owners are responsible for how the resources are being used so obviously they must have a say and they can't just let the PMs do whatever they want.

Also at some point organizations may decide that some projects are less important than others or some operational work is more important so they can drag the resources from some projects and put them to use where they are more needed.