What is Project Management?

Project management is the process of overseeing projects from their inception to their completion. It involves managing the project along the way, and then reflecting on the outcomes once it has been delivered.

Learning the ins and outs of project management is essential if you plan on making it your career. Moreover, it’s vital to understand the diversity of approaches involved, and be aware of  which route would be relevant in a given situation.

The various stages of any given project include initiation, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and finally closing the project. These steps require immense focus and determination. The success of the project will depend on the project manager at its heart.

In this article, we will answer the following questions:

• Why is project management an attractive career option?

• What are the different roles and responsibilities within project management?

• How can project management help advance your career?

• Where do I get started?

Why is project management an attractive career option?

Project management is an attractive career option for several reasons. Project managers are always in demand in every industry, given the complexities of the skill sets involved. Here are a few reasons why project management will always be in vogue:

• Project management affords you a unique place in the company, which allows you to stay connected with the management, key stakeholders, and the client. This equips  the project management team with a distinctive sense of control over the company’s key business processes.

• Roles in project management are renowned for the lucrative salaries associated with them, thereby guaranteeing financial security.

• Project management enables you to develop skills that you may have learnt over the years, thereby ensuring constant growth in your career. Moreover, it presents fantastic opportunities for you to take on challenges and acquire new skills.

• With the range of roles available in project management, it lays out a clear, well-defined career path for those looking to specialise in it.

What are the different roles and responsibilities within project management?

A project manager’s role is an interesting one, with a multitude of functions.  Most project managers won’t just be working on a single venture at a time, so it’s essential to be able to keep on top of one’s own workload. With projects often requiring significant outlay and no small amount of risk, companies require assurance that their managers have the appropriate knowledge and skillset to ensure timely and efficient completion. Therefore, it is important that project managers are up to date with the latest developments in the field of project management.

A more granular overview of project management is as follows:

• Project management requires being responsible for defining the scope of a project. This is essential so that everyone involved, from management to the team responsible for completing the project, is on the same page regarding the expectations of what will be delivered.

• Project management ties together what the goals of the project are and how its success will be measured. It also defines everything from a project’s budget and workload to what may be most important of all – its deadline.

• Another essential task in project management is allocating resources in a skilful and efficient manner. This will involve identifying who should be doing what and keeping track of the team’s workload.

• This is best done using a project management software tool, and there are a multitude of these on the market. It’s essential to be aware of what options are available, in order to find what works best for you and your team.

• Key planning in the preliminary stages will mean that any potential pitfalls and roadblocks are anticipated. Any issues with personnel will also need to be managed, and a fresh allocation of workload will be required in the wake of any absences.

• While completing the project is a major step, it will not be the final piece of the puzzle. An essential part of project management is assessing where things went right and wrong, taking any new insights on board and learning from each experience for the next.

• Good project management means looking for ways to be more efficient, and there’s no better way than analysing the most recent project, before it’s on to the next one.

How can project management help advance your career?

Project management is something that is required in most industries, so while you may not have experience in a particular field, the overall structure of overseeing and delivering projects is much the same across the board. This means that experience and certifications in project management are a major bonus for anyone looking to find a new challenge.

Where do I get started? 

So you decided to become a project manager! While anyone with good organisational skills and a certain degree of industry knowledge can manage a project, to be a true project manager it’s best to learn about all the key areas of this fascinating discipline. What better way to learn than to sign up for the Professional Academy Diploma in Project Management at UCD Professional Academy?