Project Management

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Project Manager Career Plan

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Francisco Castro Júnior Analista Sistemas | Consultor de Qualidade ISO 9001:2008 São Paulo, Sp, Brazil
There is much talk about the rush of human life. Notably, because today there is a greater demand of people for agility, especially in large metropolises, where changes, sense of urgency and pressure are constant. These demands come from expectations generated by the business world, after all, time is money in it. And when we talk about a project, it is not different, above all, because of the need for results within the shortest time possible. In the current economic scenario, the word "project" has been widely used in many areas of professional practice and is often implemented as a means of executing a strategic plan. In this sense, the project manager emerges, a professional on the rise who can count on a guide of methods and tools on the best practices in project management that helps him to obtain the desired result in the organizations, but for such responsibility they end up hiring Professionals who already have an extensive experience in this field.

I am a professional with six years of career in Information Technology and Communication acting in medium and large companies, inside and outside the state with extensive experience in systems implementation and maintenance, improvement of teams and implementation of improvements, taking Such as specialty ERP and CRM software.

I am looking for advice and new opportunities where I can contribute effectively or voluntarily to build a career as a project manager.

I am studying for my first CAPM certification, however I would like to get my hands on the job, in order to have a relative knowledge on the subject. I would acquire knowledge and pay with my contribution.

I accept tips! Grateful.
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Deepa Kalangi Manager, Program Management, Author, Trainer| CVS Health Charlotte, NC, United States
Hello

You are totally aligned in your thinking. YES, whichever IT role you are in, you are working on a PROJECT. What a PM does- traditionally, formally is the only difference. There is quite a bit of market now for PM's, the only thing to remember though is that the PM has more responsibility than you would think, (I was once a BA/QA and that time I had some different mindset about PMs:-)) and accountability. They strive continuously to keep it on track and keep it going. The projects are large and now is needing more coordination skills than ever because of the nature of the projects(TTM, benefit to cost, etc) have increased and also disperse teams(offshore as well and timezones are different). But other than that, market is good.
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1 reply by Adrian Carlogea
Jun 23, 2017 7:11 AM
Adrian Carlogea
...
I disagree wit the fact that all IT experts work on projects. This is not true. Many of them work for example on support which is not a project.

A project is an activity that has an end and for which a fixed budget has been allocated.

Support on the other hand basically has no determined end, support will run for as long as it is needed. Also for support there is no fixed budget allocated but instead operating expenses are being used.

For support there is basically no need for a plan, you just wait for customers to report issues that you have to fix. When you support a software product, sometimes enhancement are being delivered as part of support so there is no need for project management for this.

It is only when major changes are needed a project will be created to deliver those changes. When there are no changes or the changes are small then it is Business as Usual (BAU) and not a project.
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Francisco Castro Júnior Analista Sistemas | Consultor de Qualidade ISO 9001:2008 São Paulo, Sp, Brazil
Deepa,

Thank you for the words! It is very important to hear from someone who has already gone that way.

I'll take a look at your book. That's a good tip!
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Adrian Carlogea Australia
Jun 20, 2017 8:02 PM
Replying to Deepa Kalangi
...
Hello

You are totally aligned in your thinking. YES, whichever IT role you are in, you are working on a PROJECT. What a PM does- traditionally, formally is the only difference. There is quite a bit of market now for PM's, the only thing to remember though is that the PM has more responsibility than you would think, (I was once a BA/QA and that time I had some different mindset about PMs:-)) and accountability. They strive continuously to keep it on track and keep it going. The projects are large and now is needing more coordination skills than ever because of the nature of the projects(TTM, benefit to cost, etc) have increased and also disperse teams(offshore as well and timezones are different). But other than that, market is good.
I disagree wit the fact that all IT experts work on projects. This is not true. Many of them work for example on support which is not a project.

A project is an activity that has an end and for which a fixed budget has been allocated.

Support on the other hand basically has no determined end, support will run for as long as it is needed. Also for support there is no fixed budget allocated but instead operating expenses are being used.

For support there is basically no need for a plan, you just wait for customers to report issues that you have to fix. When you support a software product, sometimes enhancement are being delivered as part of support so there is no need for project management for this.

It is only when major changes are needed a project will be created to deliver those changes. When there are no changes or the changes are small then it is Business as Usual (BAU) and not a project.
...
1 reply by Francisco Castro Júnior
Jun 23, 2017 9:39 AM
Francisco Castro Júnior
...
Adrian,

One of the first things we encounter when we get involved with projects is to know the difference from concept to process. And this naturally leads us to different universes as to techniques and tools for each of these activities.

I also think that not all IT-related functions deal directly or indirectly with projects. Just running the process. Your example is perfect and fits into my current position. I did not know the term BAU.

Thank you.
avatar
Francisco Castro Júnior Analista Sistemas | Consultor de Qualidade ISO 9001:2008 São Paulo, Sp, Brazil
Jun 23, 2017 7:11 AM
Replying to Adrian Carlogea
...
I disagree wit the fact that all IT experts work on projects. This is not true. Many of them work for example on support which is not a project.

A project is an activity that has an end and for which a fixed budget has been allocated.

Support on the other hand basically has no determined end, support will run for as long as it is needed. Also for support there is no fixed budget allocated but instead operating expenses are being used.

For support there is basically no need for a plan, you just wait for customers to report issues that you have to fix. When you support a software product, sometimes enhancement are being delivered as part of support so there is no need for project management for this.

It is only when major changes are needed a project will be created to deliver those changes. When there are no changes or the changes are small then it is Business as Usual (BAU) and not a project.
Adrian,

One of the first things we encounter when we get involved with projects is to know the difference from concept to process. And this naturally leads us to different universes as to techniques and tools for each of these activities.

I also think that not all IT-related functions deal directly or indirectly with projects. Just running the process. Your example is perfect and fits into my current position. I did not know the term BAU.

Thank you.
avatar
Deepesh Rammoorthy ICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood Service Tarneit, Vic, Australia
Hi Fransisco

You say that

You have experience in systems implementation and maintenance, improvement of teams and implementation of improvements in projects like ERP and CRM

Were you involved in the implementation from day one?

Did you look at their existing ERP and CRM systems and suggest how they should improve their system? Did you assist in Data Migration ? Did you assist in developing interfaces?

Did you for example analyse the current infrastructure of the client and provide recommendations on optimum Memory, CPU, Architecture to implement that ERP or CRM Software?

Did you for example, install the actual ERP and CRM system and train people on how to use that?

Did you concentrate on what the Business wanted out of the CRM and ERP and then configured the System to achieve that functionality?

Were you a Business Analyst, A Solution Architect or a System Analyst/Implementer or Trainer

All these are different kinds of roles that may help implement a CRM/ERP system.

You can ask your boss to involve you in the next project right from the time when the Business Development Manager has acquired the business for you till the time when the ERP /CRM system is implemented on a customer's premises
Ask to look at the Project Plan and Schedule .
Ask to look at the Budget or simply ask what it cost to implement
Ask to see the Risk and Issue Register.

See what is captured in those documents.
Try to apply your CAPM knowledge to any work that you are doing .

You are a Stakeholder . How would a Project Manager keep you engaged?
You are a Team Player. How would you contribute to a schedule? How would you decompose scope using a Work Break Down Structure?

Think outside the square. You are an expert in the CRM and ERP Product , but what does the Project Manager do apart from the product?

How does the PM engage and talk to Stakeholders?

See the reports. what does the PM capture in the reports?

Good Luck
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1 reply by Francisco Castro Júnior
Jun 27, 2017 12:29 PM
Francisco Castro Júnior
...
Hi Deepesh,

In the company where I worked I was involved with these issues. In the company and current function there are organizational limitations that do not allow me to solve them. In fact, I am seeking to apply all these points in my personal projects in the pursuit of improvement. The career plan I've created is one of them. That way I'll be prepared for when new opportunities arise.

Thanks for the encouragement.
avatar
Francisco Castro Júnior Analista Sistemas | Consultor de Qualidade ISO 9001:2008 São Paulo, Sp, Brazil
Jun 27, 2017 1:59 AM
Replying to Deepesh Rammoorthy
...
Hi Fransisco

You say that

You have experience in systems implementation and maintenance, improvement of teams and implementation of improvements in projects like ERP and CRM

Were you involved in the implementation from day one?

Did you look at their existing ERP and CRM systems and suggest how they should improve their system? Did you assist in Data Migration ? Did you assist in developing interfaces?

Did you for example analyse the current infrastructure of the client and provide recommendations on optimum Memory, CPU, Architecture to implement that ERP or CRM Software?

Did you for example, install the actual ERP and CRM system and train people on how to use that?

Did you concentrate on what the Business wanted out of the CRM and ERP and then configured the System to achieve that functionality?

Were you a Business Analyst, A Solution Architect or a System Analyst/Implementer or Trainer

All these are different kinds of roles that may help implement a CRM/ERP system.

You can ask your boss to involve you in the next project right from the time when the Business Development Manager has acquired the business for you till the time when the ERP /CRM system is implemented on a customer's premises
Ask to look at the Project Plan and Schedule .
Ask to look at the Budget or simply ask what it cost to implement
Ask to see the Risk and Issue Register.

See what is captured in those documents.
Try to apply your CAPM knowledge to any work that you are doing .

You are a Stakeholder . How would a Project Manager keep you engaged?
You are a Team Player. How would you contribute to a schedule? How would you decompose scope using a Work Break Down Structure?

Think outside the square. You are an expert in the CRM and ERP Product , but what does the Project Manager do apart from the product?

How does the PM engage and talk to Stakeholders?

See the reports. what does the PM capture in the reports?

Good Luck
Hi Deepesh,

In the company where I worked I was involved with these issues. In the company and current function there are organizational limitations that do not allow me to solve them. In fact, I am seeking to apply all these points in my personal projects in the pursuit of improvement. The career plan I've created is one of them. That way I'll be prepared for when new opportunities arise.

Thanks for the encouragement.

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