Ch 16: Project Roles and Stakeholders

Question 1

Project Manager’s role

Answer 1

Integrate
- everything and everyone to complete the project
Communication
Decision maker
Motivator
- lead the project
Evangelist
- driving commitment and buy-in for the project
Entrepreneur of the project
- driven to procure the funds, facilities and people needed

Question 2

Main job responsibility of the Project Manager

Answer 2

deliver project end-item in accordance with requirements and contract terms

Question 3

General responsibilities of the Project Manager

Answer 3

planning project tasks and end results
selecting and organising project team
working with and negotiating with influential stakeholders
monitoring and communicating the project status
identifying functional and technical problems
solving problems
dealing with crises and resolving conflicts

Question 4

Domain competency

Answer 4

the project manager must have a good understanding of all areas within the project domain (do not have to be experts though)

the project manager’s technical and administrative competency must cover the full scope of the project

Question 5

Authority

Answer 5

project manager’s power to command others to act or not to act

Question 6

Two kinds of authority

Answer 6

1. Legal authority

2. Charismatic authority

Question 7

Legal authority

Answer 7

given by the organisation

linked to the job and the role

Question 8

Charismatic authority

Answer 8

power one gains through personal characteristics

charm, personality, and appearance

Question 9

Traditional authority

Answer 9

management theory states that authority is always greater at higher levels in the organisation and delegated downwards

challenged by the fact that managers do not have all the knowledge to make complex decisions

lack of technical expertise –> need to rely on subordinate specialist for advice

Question 10

Forms of influence

Answer 10

Knowledge
Expertise
Persuasion
Personal relationships

Question 11

Qualifications of a Successful Project Manager falls into 4 categories

Answer 11

1. Personal characteristics
2. Interpersonal skills
3. General business skills
4. Other skills

Question 12

Personal characteristics

Answer 12

Flexible and adaptable
Preference for initiative and leadership
Confidence, persuasiveness, and verbal fluency
Effective communicator and integrator
Able to balance technical solution with time, cost and human factors
Well organised and disciplined
Generalist rather than specialist

Question 13

Interpersonal skills

Answer 13

Asking leadership questions
Remaining quiet and allowing the other person sufficient time to talk
Reflecting on the person’s answer and checking for correctness
Reflecting on the person’s emotions
Active listening: LEAR - Listen, Explore, Acknowledge, Respond

Question 14

General Business Skills

Answer 14

Understanding the organisation and the business
Knowledge of management
- marketing, accounting, contracting, purchasing, human resources, business concepts
Ability to translate business requirements into project and system requirements
Strong, active, continuous interest in teaching, training, and developing subordinates

Question 15

Other skills

Answer 15

Technical skills
- must have a strong grasp on technical aspects to be able to make informed decisions
- be qualified to integrate concepts from different disciplines to make technical judgements
Selection and Recruiting
- can be selected from functional managers or promoted subject-matter experts
Training
- organisations devote significant time and expense in preparing individuals into the PM role

Question 16

Members in the Project Office

Answer 16

Project Engineer
Contract Administrator
Project Controller
Project Accountant
Customer Liason
Production Coordinator
Field or Site Manager
Quality Assurance Supervisor

Question 17

Project Engineer

Answer 17

coordinating technological areas

assures integrated design of end items

Question 18

Contract Administrator

Answer 18

responsible for the legal aspects of the project and its contractors, subcontractors, vendors etc

Question 19

Project Controller

Answer 19

works with functional managers to identify tasks and individuals and ways to control the tasks

Question 20

Project Accountant

Answer 20

provides accounting support

Question 21

Customer Liason

Answer 21

maintain and manage customer relationships

Question 22

Production Coordinator

Answer 22

plans and coordinates aspects relating to production in one project

Question 23

Field or Site Manager

Answer 23

oversees construction, installation, testing and handing over

Question 24

Quality Assurance Supervisor

Answer 24

establish and administer quality issues in the project

Question 25

Functional Managers

Answer 25

responsible for

• maintaining technical competency
• staffing and executing project tasks within their disciplines and functional areas

Question 26

Project functional leader

Answer 26

serves as liaison between project manager and functional manager

prepares the functional manager’s department’s portion of the project plan
supervises project work performed by the department

Question 27

Roles outside the project team

Answer 27

Manager of projects/Project management office director
Top management
Program manager

Question 28

Manager of projects/Project management office director

Answer 28

same hierarchy level as functional managers

oversees multiple projects
directs and evaluates all project managers
link between the organisation, its resources and the project
link between the project’s needs and functional heads
managing the development of project management policies, processes and techniques
ensure consistency among projects

Question 29

Top Management

Answer 29

Makes all major decisions about project selecting and prioritisation
Approve project feasibility study
Selects PM
Authorizes project startup

Question 30

Program Manager

Answer 30

responsible for coordinating the project with other projects working to achieve program goals

Question 31

Program

Answer 31

When project is part of a larger effort

Question 32

Project stakeholders

Answer 32

Any group or individual affected by, interested in, or partially influential on the project

Question 33

Stakeholder engagement

Answer 33

important to identify the stakeholders thoroughly

understanding their interests, needs, attitudes regarding the project
prepare strategies to accomodate them