What is the role of a PM in project selection process?

He should be a good business analysis and economic analysis!!!!

Choosing a project is usually a business decision. If you happen to be a project manager, you have to take off that hat and put your business manager hat.

Pench, Las organizaciones por lo general cuentan con un staff de directores de proyectos, a veces somos convocados para colaborar en la selección de proyectos, no hay duda que todos los proyectos están alineados a la estrategia de negocio. El rol que cumplirá el director de proyecto contribuye al análisis de si cumplirá los diferentes niveles de factibilidad como también de la identificación de riesgos y calidad. Está sobrentendido que el PM debe ser todo un experto en el negocio, en finanzas, en conflictos, negociador, etc. etc.

How can a PM be involved if the project hasn't been selected yet?

What Sante is eluding to is that the PM is usually only assigned once the project has been approved. It is very rare, I've never been in that position as PM, where the PM has any involvement in the business case and project selection/feasibility.

Pench -

depends on when a PM is normally engaged. In some companies, this would happen only after project selection & prioritization had happened. In others, especially those where PMs are reporting within a line of business rather than a PMO of some kind, the PM might support the sponsor to develop the (pre-approval) business case.

Kiron

Sante, I have seen some organizations assign project managers in the selection process. He/She may be working in different projects but to get expert's advice on the project selection, project managers will involve in the selection process.

It can work both ways; either PM assigned after selection is complete, or a seasoned PM will be assigned to assist with the selection process itself (helping with the report, driving others to complete their deliverable, etc.), then once selected a permanent PM is assigned.