Project managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the completion of a project, while ensuring that deliverables are on time, on budget, and within scope.
They also effectively assess and analyze potential risks to the project.
The project life cycle consists of four phases, and it is important to have an experienced Project manager engaged during all phases in order to avoid unexpected events that disrupt the process:
Initiating:
The project manager works with leadership to define the project’s purpose and scope. Identifying and engaging the key stakeholders, or the individuals or groups who will be impacted by the project, including both employees and customers. All of this collectively goes into the creation of the project charter.
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- Initiating Phase Manager Risk Prevention: An experienced project manager will help engage and ensure that the selected stakeholders, both internal and external, are onboard and in agreement with the project. As the old saying goes “make sure everyone in your boat is rowing and not drilling holes when you’re not looking”.
Planning:
The project sponsor, who is typically leadership, will review and approve the project charter. The project manager will work with a team of subject matter experts (SMEs), that have been assigned to the project, to further define the scope of the project and create a more in-depth plan of action. They will work to develop key deliverables, deadlines, and call out major risks or obstacles the project may face.
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- Planning Phase Risk Prevention: During the planning phase the project manager can draw on expertise and previous experience to adequately set a budget. The shortage or mismanagement of project funds can result in a threat to the project’s completion.
Executing and Monitoring:
During the last phase of planning, the project manager helps create a high-performing team and during this phase their focus is to help that team successfully complete the project at hand.
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- Executing and Monitoring Phase Risk Prevention: The project manager will draw on previous project experience to ensure the SMEs provide help to the teams in order to achieve successful outcomes. The SME also provides mentorship to the team members to help them complete their tasks. If this is not happening the project manager should escalate, call out the risk and set a mitigation plan and process in place.
Closing:
The project manager completes the project as planned and delivers the expected results.
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- Closing Phase Risk Prevention: Capturing lessons learned is highly important in this last phase. Lessons learned and repositories of information should be left for the client to refer to and utilize as tools post implementation. Lessons learned documentation can save valuable time and budget for future projects.
Project managers skilled in all four phases of a project life cycle can improve the likelihood of a successful project. Let Patriot Services provide a
project manager or a project manager mentor for your next project.
