Project management is a major discipline in
overall project development and execution. From beginning to end, project
managers ensure that information technology projects are well planned, effectively
monitored and controlled, and meet suggested deadlines. In essence, IT projects
are normally more challenging than usual manufacturing and business
consultation projects. This is because these projects confront conventional
project management challenge such as deadlines, budget constraints, and
resource shortage, as well as technological challenges, including hardware/
software optimisation, security risks, testing methods, diversity of platforms,
configuration, and interoperability /compatibility issues, etc. Therefore, to
avoid failure, organisations must consider the resources it plans to devote to
a project. It is important to understand the short-term and long-term needs and
scope of the project and to consider the
schedule realistically, to be involved and share complete vision with the
project workers, and set a development cycle for the project deliverables.
Throughout the project design and development cycle, the Project manager plays
a crucial role.
Several job roles claim the title of
project manager, but in truth, they are a far cry from the conventional role
with responsibility for the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring,
control, and closing of a project. So, how you can be certain you are hiring
the right person for the job?
First, profile the kind of person you wish
to recruit. Below are some brief behavioural competencies and technological
skills essential for a Project Manager in an IT organisation:
Behavioural Competencies
·
Enthusiastic, zealous and
driven.
·
Focused and not easily disturbed/distracted.
·
Able to work independently and
with initiative to strict schedules.
·
Exceptional interpersonal,
communication, negotiation, and teamwork skills.
·
Creative, adaptable, and
determined to find the best possible solution.
·
Ability to plan, organise,
schedule, and collaborate on multiple tasks at a time.
·
Self-motivated and able to
motivate/encourage others.
Technical Skills
General
·
Client communication management
·
Partner/Supplier
administration.
·
Acquainted with outsourced and
offshore operations.
·
Good people skills. Should be
able to develop team, retain interest, and mentor staff.
·
Good influencing skills.
Project Management
·
Complete understanding of
different project management methods such as Critical chain project management,
PRINCE2™, Agile and PRiSM (Projects integrating Sustainable Methods), etc.
·
Expert in trade-offs between
time, cost, quality and scope.
·
Able to produce, review, and
update business cases.
·
Proficient in project planning.
·
Issue and risk management
capabilities.
·
Familiar with change management
techniques.
·
Total quality management
systems.
·
Proficient in budgeting and
cost control.
IT Skills
For
a technical project manager, it is necessary to have the following skills:
·
Expert in IT development
methods.
·
Proficient with software
testing methodologies and tools.
·
Business analysis and process
design skills.
·
Able to develop service level
agreement.
This comprehensive list covers major
competencies, qualification, and skills required for an IT project manager
role. Once you know what is required of the prospective candidate, create a job
specification reflecting required elements. Post Job description/specification
on relevant job portals, for example: Vertex IT solutions specialises in IT
recruitment and professional development: to get the CVs rolling in. http://vertex-it-solutions.com/
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