Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
Should a Project Manager be qualified or have working knowledge of the solution/service/product or process,being developed as part of the project?
Often, PMs are unaware of the subject matter, and deliver fantastic results. However at times, due to lack of knowledge of the subject matter, the project may results in higher resource engagement.
How critical is it that a PM gains a workable knowledge of the subject, bearing in mind, the PM may be managing different projects at the same time and over a period of a career, may work in 100s if not 1000s of projects.
Interesting, I think the PM need to understand, but working knowledge or subject matter expert no. I recall a few example we the PM started to do the work instead of the PM job.
That can make to project at risk.
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1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:05 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
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The risk element is what I intend to look into quite deeply. Its a very delicate point where experience vs education comes into play.
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
This topic has been brought up several times in this forum. My view: it is not necessary (and even not recommendable) to be a SME on the project topic to succeed in a PM role.
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1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:05 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
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Thanks for your reply Eduard.
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Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
^ Agree with Eduard, on both points. Saving Changes...
John NashProgramme Manager| Kingfisher ITDorset, United Kingdom
It helps to know a bit, what I often find it that even if I know the answer I keep quiet to see what others say, it's a useful tactic for determining how much knowledge people have, and also pleading ignorance is a great way to get people to give you a little time and do some information gathering. However, be aware that you will rarely, and should rarely, know more than the people working with you as SME's and if you do that's a problem in itself!!
However, ending a 12 month project with the same amount of knowledge of what you have been working on as at the start doesn't reflect well on you as an individual as it's hard ot see how you could have attended 12 months of project meetings without picking up at least the lingua franca of the subject, so if you dont pick up a working knowledge as you go that's probably not right, whether in 2 years or 3 years that technical experience is still relevant is really not the issue.
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1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:08 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
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Thanks for your thoughts John. Personally, in my formative years in project management, I have managed to pick up a huge amount of skills and technical expertise, due to the nature of my involvement. I consider that I need to have a fair level of knowledge to run a project, so my project plans are as accurate as possible. The WBS is often adviced by the functional leads of the project, however, its the project manager who has to accept the data, timescales, effort etc from project team in order to build a project plan. So knowing the subject matter to an operational level, in my opinion will improve the success rates of the project.
Regards
Chanu
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Andy KaufmanHost| People and Projects PodcastLake Zurich, Il, United States
I've seen good and poor results on both sides of the discussion. One thing I know for sure is that the PM doesn't typically need to be the expert. In fact, I've seen it happen where the "PM as expert" model slowed down the project because everything had to go through them.
Personally, I would feel much more comfortable having at least, in your terms, a working knowledge of the project's domain. But that could be related to having control freak tendencies. :)
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1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:09 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
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Andy, thanks for your views. I agree that a PM must have Adequate knowledge of subject matter.
As the Project Management is a continuous knowledge practice I do firmly believe that PMs don't strictly need the knowledge of the project, though, as experience given by working on a small firm taught me, it can highly be considered and rewarding
I'm reminded of why I did not like reading Doc Savage novels when I was a teenager. It did not matter that his team had the world-best people in their fields, Doc Savage was always better than them.
That's not what a project manager should be or do. She should have people that are better than her in their domain. Her job is to faciltate the team's skills and their efforts to get the best out of the team.
Does it mean she should not have some knowledge? Absolutely not. A good project manager has a breadth of knowledge that allows her to function in various context and under numerous conditions.
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1 reply by Chanukya Rajagopala
Jan 16, 2017 7:10 AM
Chanukya Rajagopala
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Very good reference to Doc Savage to hammer in your thoughts Stephane.
Thank you,
Regards
Chanu
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Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
Jan 08, 2017 11:13 PM
Replying to Anupam
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Ask yourself, what is important? Will i be able to meet the project goals or deliver solution/service/product or process?
One cannot go long with just being qualified or working knowledge, it's the experience that matter.
Chanukya RajagopalaDirector - IT Strategy - R & D| iPOCA Private LtdUnited Kingdom
Jan 08, 2017 11:19 PM
Replying to Vincent Guerard
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Interesting, I think the PM need to understand, but working knowledge or subject matter expert no. I recall a few example we the PM started to do the work instead of the PM job.
That can make to project at risk.
The risk element is what I intend to look into quite deeply. Its a very delicate point where experience vs education comes into play.
Thanks for taking time to reply Vincent Saving Changes...
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