Project Management

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New to project management consulting and would love some advice

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Danyelle B Ga, United States
Hi so a bit of background about my current situation, I am not new to project management but I am new to PM consulting. With my current company they have other PMs within maybe a analytical or biological department thatbhave specific scientific skills to aid in a client goal of submitting paperwork for new drugs to go to market and then they also have a PM department that have more of the traditional PM skills that get put on projects according to what a client may need.

Some problem areas Im encountering are
1. am unsure really where I fit in being the project manager with a more PM focused skill set amongst these other project managers that are on this client with me. I would love some insight on individuals that may have been in this particular dynamic.
2. How should I interact with the client? From our last meeting on Friday they wanted to move into more 1-on-1 conversations with the project managers that have the scientific knowledge they need to guide them with their paperwork submissions. Should I contact the client to set up time between them and this other PM or should I let them work directly one on one together?
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Paul Hollings IT Project Manager| Self Employed Herne Bay, Kent, United Kingdom
Hi Danyelle, it sounds like there are dedicated PMs for specific aspects of the submission which means that there may be a space for you to coordinate across the workstreams. From my contact with CROs I have seen this model used. Drug submission is absolutely critical for the client, so the PMs that are directly involved with submission materials need the time and focus to cross every T and dot every i.
..but laser focus can = blinkered view, so you can be their peripheral vision.
My advice would be talk to the PMO management and colleagues about their expectations and take ideas and proposals for your remit into those conversations.
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Take a closer look to SPIN Selling method. You can complement it with Power Base Selling and LAMP methods.
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Peter Rapin Subject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent Consultant Ontario, Canada
Consider project management as technical expertise. Typically project managers rely and call on technical experts (Subject Mater Experts (SME) to advance the project on technical matters. There is no reason that this can't be reversed where the technical experts rely and call on a project manager to provide project management expertise (SME-PM).

One approach is to figure out what problem you are trying to solve or alleviate (if there is no problem then you are not needed).

I would hesitate to insert myself where I am not wanted - if the client wishes to go 1 on 1, identify any risks associated with that and be part of mitigating those risks.
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1 reply by Danyelle B
May 27, 2022 11:10 AM
Danyelle B
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Thank you Peter. This is really helpful. I’ve also reached out to my manager just to get some insight from him and he proposed the same thing. So I’ll reach out to the technical PMs on if I can assist them with anything and if not I’ll focus on other work.
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Danyelle B Ga, United States
May 27, 2022 11:06 AM
Replying to Peter Rapin
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Consider project management as technical expertise. Typically project managers rely and call on technical experts (Subject Mater Experts (SME) to advance the project on technical matters. There is no reason that this can't be reversed where the technical experts rely and call on a project manager to provide project management expertise (SME-PM).

One approach is to figure out what problem you are trying to solve or alleviate (if there is no problem then you are not needed).

I would hesitate to insert myself where I am not wanted - if the client wishes to go 1 on 1, identify any risks associated with that and be part of mitigating those risks.
Thank you Peter. This is really helpful. I’ve also reached out to my manager just to get some insight from him and he proposed the same thing. So I’ll reach out to the technical PMs on if I can assist them with anything and if not I’ll focus on other work.
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Peter Rapin Subject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent Consultant Ontario, Canada
I agree with reaching out to the technical PMs but sometimes you have to push a little to show them that you can make their lives more rewarding - some people tend to get stuck in their own ruts.
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Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany
Danyelle,

from my experience working with several project managers, the 2 topics of integration and aligned communication benefit most from being in a more generalist role. This could be as the program manager top-down or as a PMO member bottom up or horizontal as a supportive peer.

As to aligned communication, a plethora of PMs may create a cacophony of communication which is not appreciated by the client and other stakeholders.

As to integration, there are many aspects like resource exchange, deliverables, information, aligning to an overall goal etc.

I am also a fan of 1:1s, as your client suggests. It is a part of stakeholder identification & analysis for your role. Gives you the opportunity to build relationships, identify individual issues, interfaces, communication paths and areas where you can help.

Thomas

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