What is Project Management? Definition, Concepts and Approaches

August 27, 2025
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project manager definition

Construction document management is a highly important task undertaken with the aid of an online or desktop software system or maintained through physical documentation. The increasing legality pertaining to the construction industry’s maintenance of correct documentation has caused an increase in the need for document management systems. There are a number of approaches to organizing and completing project activities, including phased, lean, iterative, and incremental. There are also several extensions to project planning, for example, based on outcomes (product-based) or activities (process-based).

  • If someone contracts a builder to design and construct an office space, the office is a tangible deliverable.
  • Airtable’s project management software offers a flexible, intuitive way for teams to plan, track, and execute work across any type of project, at any scale.
  • Project management as a discipline continues to evolve as new methodologies emerge, such as Agile software development, and as the pace of technology rapidly advances.
  • Quality assurance processes are implemented to verify that project deliverables meet the specified quality standards.
  • By following these tips, project managers can reduce stress and improve their well-being while delivering successful projects and achieving their career goals.

Project portfolio management: A beginner’s guide

As a project management professional, you will use your people skills and technical skills to lead teams of professionals. This can mean working closely with UX designers, developers, account managers, testers, architects, business analysts, and many other stakeholders. The best project managers are always learning; they keep their finger on the pulse of new developments in their industry and work to build tight-knit teams.

Agile Project Management

Project managers constantly hunt for project issues so they can knock them down before they become bigger problems. Issues typically impede the progress of the project and cannot always be resolved by the project manager or project team without outside consultation. Projects change often, and it’s your job as a project manager to make sure everyone—clients, team, and any other related parties—is aware of the change and its impacts. When you or your team make assumptions, you have to communicate them because project assumptions can affect scope, goals, deliverables, and outcomes.

A brief history of project management

project manager definition

Once a team is created, the project manager creates a project schedule to assign tasks and deadlines, giving the team the tools to collaborate without micromanaging every activity. It’s important to meet regularly and get status updates to chart progress while reallocating Technical Project Manager/Business Analyst job resources as needed to avoid blocking team members or overburdening them. For those overseeing construction projects, the workplace extends to construction sites.

project manager definition

However, the bigger and more complex the project becomes, the more critical it is that the PM has some background industry knowledge. After all, the fundamentals are the same, no matter whether you’re managing huge marketing teams or a construction project. Smooth project operations require proactive reporting to owners and executives within their organization about challenges and changes to the project. PMs relay information between superintendents, subcontractors, and office staff, actively listening to concerns and brainstorming solutions. Explore valuable insights into the latest construction trends and project management best practices, and learn how Procore’s platform can optimize your projects. A seasoned project manager may be working on two to five jobs at a time, and regular site visits are necessary to maintain a connection with each.

Define what project management means to you

project manager definition

Project managers also know how to work in the various project management methodologies. They are skilled in knowing which methodology — or combination of methodologies — would be best for any given project given the project objectives and available resources. Many project managers also have at least a working knowledge of one more or business functions, such as technology, operations or marketing. This background helps them more effectively lead projects involving those departments. Various project management frameworks arose in conjunction with the establishment of these professional organizations.

What Are the 5 Steps In the Project Management Process?

Because of its wider scope, project portfolio management involves multiple project managers, program managers and project portfolio managers, which usually work together under the same project management office. Jira streamlines project management by offering tools that foster collaboration, efficiency, and accountability. It is a comprehensive platform for teams to plan, track, and manage their projects in real-time, ensuring alignment and transparency throughout the project life cycle.

They include the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification from the Scrum Alliance and the Professional Scrum Master from Scrum.org. Both will show that you can lead Agile teams and projects and foster an environment of continuous improvement. These certifications are ideal if you plan to lead scaled Agile projects. Project managers supervise the functioning of every limb of a project team. So, although subject matter expertise isn’t a prerequisite for project management, it would aid task and team management. Since project managers get almost complete authority over a project and they are free to exercise their creativity and authority, Software testing they are rightly called intrapreneurs.

  • Because of this core difference, CPM and PERT are used in different contexts.
  • Project management certifications demonstrate expertise and can increase your employment prospects.
  • Project managers, thus, need to communicate effectively across many disciplines and inspire people to work in concert to deliver a successful project.
  • According to PMI, employers must fill approximately 25 million project management roles to meet global demand by 2030.
  • One of the common and most utilized project software programs, Microsoft Project Professional 2019, provides a “Wedding Planner” template.

A project manager is a skilled professional who organizes, plans and executes projects across various industries. You work within the constraints of budgets, schedules, and Software development resources to ensure projects are completed and delivered on time. Project managers lead and coordinate entire teams, define and manage project goals, and maintain clear communication with stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

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