Peter HalasiPM Consultant| Enabling ExcellenceBonstetten, Schweiz, Switzerland
Thrown into this distinguished public.
To what extent does a good project manager need to have subject matter expertise in the project topic to be managed? In other words PMs with strong SME knowledge are able to run projects successfully? I am thinking projects within the same sector, e.g banking.
Project managers with 5+ years regulatory reporting expertise. Business analysts good to have the SME expertise, I agree, but PMs as well? Saving Changes...
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Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
Hello Peter. This is a perennial topic! My view is that in many sectors and in some industries it helps. In others, it will make no difference as PM is a transferable skill. Saving Changes...
Peter HalasiPM Consultant| Enabling ExcellenceBonstetten, Schweiz, Switzerland
Thanks Elizabeth, I agree with you, it depends. What I observe however, that the trend goes very strongly towards SME expertise. With a PMP certification you market value is not high enough to get into a project manager role. My finding that PMP knowledge is a complimentary. It will become a must have in the near future, but you need to specialise in an area(s) to get access to decent projects. Saving Changes...
I don't think just having PMP is often enough to get into a PM role - that's where being a SME helps- but above either I would rate experience of successfully managing projects. Once I had developed my PM experience I found it quite straightforward, and rewarding, to manage other projects that are in fields I am quite unfamiliar with. There is a lot you can bring to a topic from other unrelated experiences. Saving Changes...
This was an attitude I encountered a lot when looking for work. The way I explain it to people is that it's not my job to tell you how to do your job. My job is to help you make good promises, and to keep you accountable for them. I don't need to know the best practice for developing software or building a house, I *do* need to know how to motivate people, how to help them take the requirements and break them down into deliverables, and how to monitor and control the process to see whether it's on track or not. Project Management is a unique combination of skills that allows everyone else to do what they excel at to the best of their abilities.
There are projects where having an SME as a project manager is helpful, definitely, But I think an outstanding project manager is more people-focused than task focused, so regardless of other areas of expertise, they should also be an SME in managing people. Saving Changes...
This was an attitude I encountered a lot when looking for work. The way I explain it to people is that it's not my job to tell you how to do your job. My job is to help you make good promises, and to keep you accountable for them. I don't need to know the best practice for developing software or building a house, I *do* need to know how to motivate people, how to help them take the requirements and break them down into deliverables, and how to monitor and control the process to see whether it's on track or not. Project Management is a unique combination of skills that allows everyone else to do what they excel at to the best of their abilities.
There are projects where having an SME as a project manager is helpful, definitely, But I think an outstanding project manager is more people-focused than task focused, so regardless of other areas of expertise, they should also be an SME in managing people. Saving Changes...
The thought pertaining to Project Management is a unique combination of skills that allows everyone else to do what they excel at to the best of their abilities is right.
A PM has to be a person which is more people oriented to better work through a project life cycle. PM a single poc or a link bridge that connects a business organization with the customers or clients. Also various other members in different other teams like BA team, Finance Teams ,Development Team, Senior Leadership etc are connected by each other via PM only.
The larger is the network of teams a PM manager is connected too , it is more important for him or her to be people oriented.
Please correct me anytime if you or others feel I am wrong. Thanks.
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Peter HalasiPM Consultant| Enabling ExcellenceBonstetten, Schweiz, Switzerland
Dear fellow PMs,
thanks for all your great comments. As usual there is no silver bullet in answering these type of questions.I am listening to the wide range of experiences you bring.
People management skills are key to understand concerns, opinions, etc. PM's soft skills are crucial to keep to project on track. However typical reactions in a certain domain are better to be known in advance to be able to mitigate. There is a fine balance as in everything. I always enjoy moving into a new terrain and I am confident about my PM and interpersonal skills will help me overcome my shortages in the SME area. Most of the time it worked, but not always.
Another question: are clients confident with certified PM skills and experience in a sector, like banking or is it justified to insist on very specific skills/experiences?
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Bernard GorePortfolio, Programme & Project Professional| NZ PoliceWellington, New Zealand
I would say there is never a need to be an SME, but a PM does need a certain level of knowledge in order to readily understand issues and to keep the actual SMEs "honest".
I have sometimes had those involved in projects try to criticise the PM because they don't have expert understanding, and the answer to this can be quite blunt - if the PM was also the SME, what would we need everyone else for?
Of course this isn't to say that a PM CANNOT develop SME understanding in a topic they have managed, or even come to the role with such a level - certainly in the past I've been at this stage, and it is useful but not essential. Saving Changes...
Salam KalandosChief, Healthcare Technology Management - Clinical Engineering | US Department of Veterans AffairsChandler, Az, United States
Being a SME always is a plus regardless of industry, if anything it gives the project manager confidence if nothing else however, it's necessary for success because the project management principles can be applied the same way across all fields and industries. Saving Changes...
