Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
I liken project management to being an orchestral conductor. My role is to coordinate the activities of all the musicians (subject matter experts) so they play the right notes at the right time to produce a beautiful symphony.
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1 reply by Jim Branden
Sep 22, 2017 11:33 AM
Jim Branden
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Eric, I use that analogy too. Most people "get it". Jim
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Jim BrandenSenior Project Manager| Retired from UNC Charlotte - IT Services - PPMOCharlotte, Nc, United States
Sep 15, 2017 7:51 AM
Replying to Eric Simms
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I liken project management to being an orchestral conductor. My role is to coordinate the activities of all the musicians (subject matter experts) so they play the right notes at the right time to produce a beautiful symphony.
Eric, I use that analogy too. Most people "get it". Jim Saving Changes...
Jim BrandenSenior Project Manager| Retired from UNC Charlotte - IT Services - PPMOCharlotte, Nc, United States
As past PMI Metrolina (Charlotte, NC, USA) Chapter VP for Corporate Relations, at Chamber of Commerce events, (after introducing myself and stating my role with the chapter), I'd answer their questions beginning with, "Processes sustain organization, (your prime business). Projects change processes and organizations." The standard reply, "OK, thanks for sharing; where's the bar?" ;-) Saving Changes...
Teresa SabinoProject Manager| Open to Work!Ct, United States
My family still doesn't understand what I do after 12 years of me trying to explain it.
I hear you, Teresa. I thought it was bad enough trying to explain my job when I was a database administrator! It's nothing compared to explaining project management.
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
I usually say something quite vague, i.e. I manage projects. Depending on the reaction, I elaborate further on the developed functions and the industry/products. Saving Changes...
My family still doesn't understand what I do after 12 years of me trying to explain it.
I hear you, Teresa. I thought it was bad enough trying to explain my job when I was a database administrator! It's nothing compared to explaining project management. Saving Changes...
So, I see it is somewhat a common problem. Things get worse when you are developing software. Saving Changes...
Ken BradshawProject Manager| CRASurrey, British Columbia, Canada
My mother tells people I work with computers, which is sort of true - I work ON a computer NEAR other computers.
I start with "I bring order to chaos", then go on to explain I get people to buy-in into a change that I was told to implement. This leads to the listeners to summarize " Oh, you manipulate people?". I prefer "I help people see that change is good and that it is better to make change happen than have change happen to them". :)
I never get to the part where I work on initiatives that have a defined start and finish, cost, and a team that dissolves at the end (whom I rarely see face to face). Saving Changes...
Tim PodestaDirector of PM/PMO| Former BP- now IndependentPenn, Bucks, United Kingdom
I normally describe a product or service that came out of the the project I am managing or managed in the past. If I am asked too elaborate I describe the people I worked with ; the sponsors - governance board; the stakeholders I liaised with, the team I led and the extended team I drew on for support and expertise. Saving Changes...
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