Project Management

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The PM have to be a technical expert on the subject of the project?

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Diego Canas Project Coordinator | Civil Engineer | Planning Engineer| - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
The Project Manager necessarily have to be a technical expert on the subject of the project? (Ex: Only IT professional managing IT project). Or does not that define the PM's ability to manage in another industry/sector?

leave your opinion below. Thank you!
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Diego Canas Project Coordinator | Civil Engineer | Planning Engineer| - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Sep 17, 2017 9:09 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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And @Diego, perhaps you have to take advantage that there are people participating here I always that I always read their comments because the level of knowledge they have. I will do that (hehehehe). If we ask the question what does means to be a technical expert as project manager?. If we take the definition or the PMBOK Guide when the BOK talked about techniques are techniques you can find inside and are related to project management. But when you search the job request those techniques are related to software (for example SQL, Oracle DB, etc) or network or hardware. So, organizations that post this type of request are searching subject matter experts that, as an additional duty, will try to lead the team that are creating the product/service/result. Then they are not searching for a project manager.
Hi Sergio!

I'm enjoying it a lot! Having the perception of professionals around the world is being amazing! I would not have imagined it anywhere other than this platform. I'm not online all the time. Your contribution is very relevant.

Muchas Gracias!
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Diego Canas Project Coordinator | Civil Engineer | Planning Engineer| - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Sep 17, 2017 10:22 AM
Replying to Najam Mumtaz
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A project manager is a professional in the field of project management. Project managers oversee the project to ensure the desired result is achieved, the most efficient resources are used and the different interests involved are satisfied.
Though if he has remained involved in a specific industry, he might have a better insight of that industry and it would give him an extra edge.
But in general he doesn't necessarily needs to be a technical expert in the industry for whom he is managing project.
Hi Najam,

I agree with you!

Thanks for your answer!
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Diego Canas Project Coordinator | Civil Engineer | Planning Engineer| - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Sep 17, 2017 1:57 PM
Replying to Tim Podesta
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All good points supporting my view that it helps to know the 'language' of the industry sector snd be able to talk to and understand the subject matter expert. It is not necessary to be the subject matter expert
Hi Mr. Podesta!

I fully agree.

Thank you so much for your contribution!
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Diego Canas Project Coordinator | Civil Engineer | Planning Engineer| - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
I agree with the opinion and vision of all of you.

I think PM doesn't need to have specific technical skills. I think the PM has to have the ability to set up a team that has people with technical skills. The PM must have strong leadership skills, negotiation skills, a team motivation ability, ability to have planning focused on the project goal.
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Meenu Datta Executive Coach, Transformation Advisor| MD Coaching and Consulting Cary, Nc, United States
All the responses are correct because some responses are from experience and shows the 'As is' situation of market (recruiters ask for some technical/domain experience, project teams expect PMs to have some background either in technology or in domain) and some responses are based on what project management should be. My vote is with the latter. Just like a product manager in a particular domain is expected to have knowledge in only their domain and no one expects them to know the other domains or have technical background Or architects have their knowledge in technology and a domain or maybe two Or developers have strengths in technology (but again, not all who know Java might know Python), a PM who can work from Retail to Banking to High Tech to Construction to Pharma (you get the idea) can't be expected to know all the domains before they start. They can and will learn as mush is needed eventually but that can't be a starting expectation from them. Likewise, they might have worked in databases background and know SQL or Mainframes or Oracle but they can't have background in all technologies and expecting to have some technical background and that too the one that company/project needs is not fair again. A project or program manager have their area of expertise and they use team's domain and technical expertise for scope/timelines finalization by bringing everyone to consensus. Getting stakeholders on same page, getting teams to talk to each other, keeping transparency, helping them to reach to decisions without too many delays, share risks on time, help put mitigation in place, communicating, sticking to decided timelines, status reporting etc. does not need knowledge of domain or technology but strong project management skills. In fact not having a technical bias helps them be impartial PMs with open minds who can help project teams find the best solution for the problem they are trying to solve.
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Diego Canas Project Coordinator | Civil Engineer | Planning Engineer| - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Thanks Meenu, for share your opinion with us!
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Bonita Baker Project Manager| Bonita Baker Springfield, Oh, United States
Sep 16, 2017 12:58 PM
Replying to Alfonso Benjamin Perez Lecuona
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I will agree with my colleagues here. The PM should have a basic understanding of the software but anything deeper than that, should be addressed by the technical lead. The PM will get more comfortable and will understands more about the product with every project he is leading.
Great information Alfonso!
All of these discussions are also of immense help to me. I was trying to figure out if I needed to dedicate more time increasing my technical skills through study or if I should instead concentrate on learning gained directly from working on projects. What I am understanding from these feeds is that it is ok for me to dedicate my attention to the projects I am working on and in improving my PM skills, and the other skills will come as I continue working projects.
Thanks to you all.
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