Taryn MancineProject Manager| Cook MyoSite, IncPittsburgh, Pa, United States
I am wondering if it is better to be a generalized project manager (understanding the project management standards) or to be specialized project manager (knowledgeable within an industry)? I am sure it would be best to have both, but I am trying to understand which is worth 'more' within the project management world today. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I totally agree with Kiron’s feedback and Sergio’s too. While you do not need to be an expert in your industry, you still do need to have the right knowledge in order to be an effective PM and of course to need to be very well aware / experienced in the PM Standards, tools, techniques. Saving Changes...
Cheikh FAYE Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Expert, CEO and owner| Eurêka TechnologiesDakar, Senegal
Hi Taryn, a generalized project manager does not exist on this earth? As the French proverb says"grasp all, lose all". You just can't have a valuable background on every domain, you just have to focus on what you do the best. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Nov 21, 2017 3:52 AM
Replying to Markus Kopko
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That would be just great, Sergio.
Thanks a lot in advance!
The process is as follows: we execute it each time we are assigned to a new initiative from "zero minute" to be prepare for elicitation. The process has these steps and here are the tools and techniques we use. We search for information about the below topics before started using the internet or any other mean.
-Application Domain Knowledge. Take knowledge about all related to the domain we are asigned like terms, process, locations, etc. We use Zachman Framework row 1 as a guide to get information.
-Business Context. Take knowledge about the environment where the business must perform its activities. We use PESTLE analysis for macro-environment and Porter Five Forces analysis for micro-environment.
-Problems other facing in the Domain. Take knowledge about other organizations are facing into the domain. We use "PIECES" model as a guide.
-Needs of key players into the domain. Take knowledge about key stakeholders are facing into other organizations into the domain. We use "Solution Selling" or "SPIN Selling" to create the key players list and the key players pain chain.
With all these stuff on hand we are prepare to perform elicitation activities. It is a matter to take consciousness which is the basement to perceive what we need to perceive. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
I see them as which can be looked upon distinctly or together. Professionally, it is our responsibility to provide expertise in the field of project management. From within a specific domain, we can apply our expertise. While our careers grow, we garner expertise in sometimes multiple domains. Saving Changes...
Based on my experience, It is better to be generalized project manager as you will be having Subject Matter Experts in your team who can guide you to understand domain knowledge. with too much of technology available out there, it is easy to extract the basics in any specialization through internet. As technology is moving very fast with IoT, AI, etc, specialized project managers life span will decrease over time (unless they keep learning). The most important and critical factor in any project is stakeholders management which will come through experience in my opinion. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
You can always acquire the knowledge to be effective in an industry. What you learn, grow and hone are your project management skills. Saving Changes...
Meade RubensteinPM III| IT Project GuideSparta, Nj, United States
This is not the first time I've been in discussions about PM specialization - and the direction of the conversation is the same. Taryn - I think its easy to say that, like other professions, there's no right or wrong approach, you can either generalize or specialize in your career and the best approach is the one that works for you. If there's a specific domain you want to specialize in, then thats the answer - if not and you wand to be more generalized...then that's right also.... Saving Changes...
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