Project Management

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Topics: Aerospace and Defense, Consulting, Information Technology
Is a project manager also a technical expert or is it better to have project manager and a technical project manager?
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Each has their own advantages, so do YOU combine both or work together with a technical expert? Depending on the feedback we all could get a better idea and maybe it depends on the subject area. I look forward to your feedback and thank you in advance!
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 10, 2017 12:22 PM
Replying to Bryce Tyrrell
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In my experience having the technical backgrounds is what has made me a better project manager. I have worked in smaller organizations were having a PM, and a technical PM isn't an option. Having a technical background has helped be to assist the team out by stepping into a BA role or the second set of eyes on a problem. It has also assisted in estimating effort and duration. With my knowledge and the expertise of the rest of the team, estimating exercises seem to take less time and provide more granular results.
Hello Bryce, thank you for your feedback. I also grew from SME to first a technical project manager and later as a project manager. I found it also useful as this helps with risk management (knowing technical difficulties), communication in general (as a part will be on the technical requirements) and managing the project. I am working in a technical field, but I don't know if this approach is used in general. I think it will also depend on the organisation type and complexity. The feedback from everybody will provide us hopefully with a better view.
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 10, 2017 2:21 PM
Replying to Wade Harshman
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This question comes up a lot, on this forum. Many of us agree that it's always helpful to have technical knowledge, but whether or not it's "required" is up to the organization and the job description.

Here's another twist: is it better to have a competent project manager with no technical knowledge, or someone with a lot of technical knowledge but no project management background? Again, it depends on the organization and the job description. I have seen very successful project managers who had no domain knowledge when they entered their current field, and I have seen technical leaders who learned how to manage projects.
Hello Wade, thank you for the input. I think each have their own advantages and it probably depends on the business and company size and/or project size.
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 10, 2017 2:24 PM
Replying to Naomi Caietti
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Arif:
You don't mention the size, complexity,industry, contract details of the project but I assume it's a contract for an IT project.

The beauty of the splitting the roles is understanding the roles, focus and deliverables. Certainly, it will save you money to have one person as the PM/Technical Lead/Engineer.

You may wish to consider one of many roles:
Systems Engineer
Enterprise Architect
Data Architect
Network Engineer
Etc.

There are many roles but industry type may change the technical roles you are looking to fill.
Hello Naomi, thank you for your input.I know it will depend on the company size and/or project size. The question here is in general in order to know if all PM are techical and if both functions are used. It is true that it will save you a lot of money if one person can combine it, but maybe it depends on the industry and maybe it is not possible for complex projects as you might need different SME profiles (as you have indicated for IT).
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 10, 2017 3:33 PM
Replying to Edgar Garcia
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Hi Arif,

I can think of using a mechanic to troubleshoot any vehicle electrical issue. The mechanic might be able to perform basic troubleshooting and the risk of not being able to fix it is high. On the other hand if the car is taken to the right shop the risk of not fixing the issue is lower. The above does not insure one or the other fixing or fail to fix the issue but there is a lower risk when the proper resource is assigned to perform any job. Of course this is only my humble opinion. Thank you for sharing this question.
Hi Edgar, thank you for your input. Correct, in order to resolve an issue, you need the right resource and hopefully the PM can identify it and/or assign the right resource.
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Denise Canty Agile Coach, Life Coach, Author, Senior Project-Program Manager| Cenden Company Washington, Dc, USA
I don't think you need two project managers on a project. I think that the PM needs to quickly come up to speed as the technical project manager.
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1 reply by Arif PUNJWANI
Apr 12, 2017 2:20 AM
Arif PUNJWANI
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Hello Denise, thank you for your feedback. This is also my preference.
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 10, 2017 3:48 PM
Replying to Vincent Guerard
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On large projects I would go for 2 persons. One would manage the project, the other oversee all technical matters. I have see many project succeed in that approach.

Smaller project can be a different choice. My experience is when you put a technical person, when the project start to be behind the get involve in the technical aspect instead of solving the source of the problem.
Hello Vincent, thank you for your feedback. I also noticed that on large projects the two functions exists with clear responsabilities. On smaller projects I noticed the approach depends on the complexity of the project.
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 10, 2017 4:49 PM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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A project manager is like an orchestra director: she/he must have knowledge for each involved instrument but she/he must not be an expert for each instrument.There are a lot of examples outside there about the benefit one or other approach (expert vs knowledge) get to any type of projects. Is a paradox for lot of people: in one said they have complains about the project manager role is consider tactic in their organizations. On the other side the same people firmly believe that a project manager must be an expert in one field. If the organization consider that you are an expert in one field forget about the organization will consider you in the side of strategy.
Hello Sergio, thank you for your feedback. I like your comparison of the orchestra director! Probably it also depends on the industry and sometimes the need of assigning a SME as a project manager (with project management training of course).
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Apr 11, 2017 6:48 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
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That is the problem: thinking that it depends on the industry. A project manager must not be a subject matter expert. When we accept that we accept that the project manager is not a project manager. Is a leader, expeditor or any other type defined into the PMBOK but not a project manager.
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 10, 2017 8:25 PM
Replying to Liana Underwood
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These are definitely two separate roles. While it helps to have technical knowledge as a PM, and some PM like skills as a technical lead, it is far better to have two people filing the roles well. I've seen many instances of technical resources being forced into the project management role. Bad idea. There is a reason each profession has schooling, and technical training to make them superior in their management or projects or grasp of architecture or coding. Any organization looking to cut costs and make folks work in both roles are doomed to disappointment with mediocre or bad results.
Hello Liana, thank you for your feedback.Cutting costs by performing both roles is certainly not recommended. There are two roles, but not every organisation uses them. As indicated in the post of Vincent, on large projects both roles are noticed. On smaller projects it depends. My experience is that smaller complex projects would have more advantage of having a combined profile (meetings, resolving issues, minimizing risks, ...) instead of having two seperate roles, but this might depend on organisation size and industry (among others).
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Philippe Schuler Senior Instructor/Lecturer in Project/Program/Account PMO Management| Independant Consultant Les Choux, France
A Project Manager should have a good knowled on the domain he/she manages project but should focus on management not on expertise. Except on very small projects one person could play both roles.
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1 reply by Arif PUNJWANI
Apr 12, 2017 2:26 AM
Arif PUNJWANI
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Hello Philippe, thank you for your feedback. Correct, the PM should have some knowlegde, but not focus on expertise. The knowlegde should support the project management activity and provide added value. In smaller projects it can be done by the same person and can be effiecient.
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Arif PUNJWANI Cybersecurity Project Manager Consultant| IP3 Consulting Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium
Apr 11, 2017 6:24 AM
Replying to Drew Craig
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A Project Manager is required to be proficient in project management. There are separate roles for technical experts; technical lead, SME, or technical manager.

As Liana, and others, point out, I have witnessed technical resources placed into a project management role with sub par results at best. Walking through the weeds makes it difficult to view the field.
Hello Andrew, thank you for your feedback. I can understand that a SME placed in a PM role does not guarantee the best results. It depends on the person, the training and support from the organisation. In order to be efficient I think a PM needs to understand technical matter without being an expert (see post of Sergio). Large projects would have both profiles (post of Vincent), but what about the "smaller" projects. Probably it will depend on the organisation, complexity of the project and industry.
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