Paolo CornaliProject Manager| HTA srlBrescia, Lombardia, Italy
One time a consultant told me that technical knowledges are not necessary for a PM. Do you agree with him?
How do you manage activities where you don't have technical knowledge?
Do you go into the details also if you don't understand it or do you trust to the team resources that will do the activities? Saving Changes...
MAEN QADDOURAHProject Director| AJ SAUDIJeddah, Saudi Arabia
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE IS A MUST FOR PM. Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Hello Paolo,
a pm is an expert in the field of projects and he/she should be able to manage every project regardless which industry ... for the technical expert i.e. you have your SME's in the team (usualy), BUT as a PM you should always have a glue what they are talking about. So, you do not need to be an expert in their field of knowledge, but as more you know about this field in general as better you may manage the project.
Regards,
Markus Saving Changes...
Rajarajan DhayanithiProject Engineer| Tecton Engineering and ConstructionAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
I agree with Mr Markus, It's always better to have technical competency. However it may not be mandatory. Saving Changes...
Mazen AlRefaaiSr Engineer| Saudi Bin Ladin GroupMecca, Saudi Arabia
I belive Technical Knowledge of project scope and consept is mandatory, While technical expert should be mandatory functional requirement for the responsible of do the technical works Saving Changes...
James PorterSr. Project Planner| Hitachi Rail STS USAGlenshaw, Pa, United States
I believe it's necessary to have a basic understanding of the technology being used in the project, so the PM can understand the terminology and general application. However, it is the responsibility of the team to execute to the plan that they helped to define. The team should not look to the PM as the technical lead (unless it's a project where the PM serves in a dual role). And in the typical case where the PM is NOT the technical lead, there is a concern that a PM with deep technical knowledge will gravitate to involvement in technical issues at the expense of the PM duties.
When technical issues arise, the PM should facilitate solutions but I have seen PMs with technical backgrounds get too deeply involved on the technical side. Sometimes it's because they are more comfortable with technology than with the things PMs need to be doing. And sometimes the technical leads are happy to dump technical issues in the lap of that kind of PM. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
You need to be strong in PM and have the right skills set including Technical Skills. Techical skills are important because they will support you in decision making, planning, risk identification and execution. If you are not technically sound then you might manage to manage but not fully manage.
I believe the PM should have enough technical skills (At least intermediate) as it will assist the PM in evaluating things more precisely especially risks when he has the right technical skills. This is my opinion based on my own experience. I am a civil engineer and I specialize in construction management so if you assign me to manage an IT project, I will manage it but not as efficient as I would if I had IT experience. One more thing worth mentioning, major part of the PM's influence is Expertise and ability to resolve conflict and this will increase his team respect and trust in him so what if a PM was in a situation to resolve a technical conflict or was asked by the client or his team something technical, do you think it is a good idea for him to answer: I do not know, I am only here to manage ? Again, this is my opinion based on years of experience.
No one can have all the Products Technical Experience but at least you should have the Industry technical experience in order to be able to manage efficiently. Every product is different than the other but at least you would have the basics in terms of technicalities in the industry besides your PM Skills.
Paolo, I would advise you to go through the below discussion thread that was opened couple of weeks ago and it is about the same exact subject - You will find too many different opinions:
Thanks for notice me that was another thread about this. I have not seen that. Sorry.
Saving Changes...
Bala S DuvvuriProject Manager| ShellBangalore, Karnataka, India
If i have two people one with just project management and another with project management + technical ability so i will definitely choose the second person .
I am trying to say that having technical capabilities is definitely an added advantage Saving Changes...
PANKAJ KUMAR JOSHIGeneral Manager| Transrail Lighting LimitedNainital, Uttrakhand, India
PM should have technical knowledge and experience of particular field. Also there are Technical skills of Project management which are necessary for all type of PM Saving Changes...
Paolo CornaliProject Manager| HTA srlBrescia, Lombardia, Italy
Jan 19, 2016 8:07 AM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
You need to be strong in PM and have the right skills set including Technical Skills. Techical skills are important because they will support you in decision making, planning, risk identification and execution. If you are not technically sound then you might manage to manage but not fully manage.
I believe the PM should have enough technical skills (At least intermediate) as it will assist the PM in evaluating things more precisely especially risks when he has the right technical skills. This is my opinion based on my own experience. I am a civil engineer and I specialize in construction management so if you assign me to manage an IT project, I will manage it but not as efficient as I would if I had IT experience. One more thing worth mentioning, major part of the PM's influence is Expertise and ability to resolve conflict and this will increase his team respect and trust in him so what if a PM was in a situation to resolve a technical conflict or was asked by the client or his team something technical, do you think it is a good idea for him to answer: I do not know, I am only here to manage ? Again, this is my opinion based on years of experience.
No one can have all the Products Technical Experience but at least you should have the Industry technical experience in order to be able to manage efficiently. Every product is different than the other but at least you would have the basics in terms of technicalities in the industry besides your PM Skills.
Paolo, I would advise you to go through the below discussion thread that was opened couple of weeks ago and it is about the same exact subject - You will find too many different opinions:
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