Key Roles of a Project Manager

They key role of a project manager will be to execute all aspects of putting together trade shows. This includes overseeing all staff members involved on the project. This will entail taking a project from initiation through completion. Overseeing the budget and managing the time-line will be imperative role in this position. This position is considered to be a senior management role.

Key Responsibilities:
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Ensuring consistency with LRH Products corporate strategy. (Max's, 2006)
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Overseeing the overall direction and management of projects.
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Provide weekly status reports and project tracking updates
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Establish project management policy and guidelines
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Prioritize Projects
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Recruit Staff and obtain resources needed to complete projects
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Work with outside vendors to ensure all project materials are delivered (brochures and signs, trinkets etc)
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Make all travel arrangements necessary which can include dinners and meeting rooms
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Commitment to the training and development of people working on the project. (Gido and Clements 2006,. Pg 297)
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To be able to identify aspects of the projects that can be delegated to other team members or departments. (Gido and Clements, 2006, pg 306)

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in relevant field required and/or comparable experience, advanced degree welcome
Experience Requirements:

Management recruiting and staffing
Applicable years experience based on projects assigned (prefer 5+ years experience)

Skill Requirements:
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Strategic Planning
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Group Motivation
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Imagination
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Diplomacy
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Risk Management (Identification, Assessment, Response Planning and Monitoring)
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Implement project management information systems
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Good communication and technology skills which can include use of cell phones, email and instant messaging.
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Ability to handle stressful situations such as meeting deadlines or conflicts within the team members.
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Problem solving skills, not only be able to identify problems but work though problems to ensure they don't slow down a project.
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Time Management Skills

Level in Organization

This position reports directly to President or Executive Vice President. This position reports to different departments heads based on projects assigned for weekly updates.

Location
Main office 50% of time, travel required for project based on needs, projected travel 50% of time.

Pay Grade
Based on experience and education, bonus awarded for outstanding project results

Training
Two week training course required to become familiar with internal computer systems and procedures.

History of Project Management

Although we can trace the history of project management back to the time of the Egyptians, project management in its modern form only began to take root just a few decades ago. Near the turn of the 20th century, Frederick Taylor began his detail studied of project management. "He applied scientific reasoning to work by showing that labor can be analyzed and improved by focusing on its elementary parts." (Sisk, 1998) Before Frederick Taylor scientific studies on projects, the only way to get more labor out of work was to require longer hours from laborers. In 1917, "Gantt (Henry L. Gantt, 1861 - 1919) added an important visualization tool around 1917 with the Gantt Chart dramatically advancing the science of project management" (PQA, 2005)

During the Mid 20th Century, WWII era, we encountered a shortage of labor supply, the PERT chart was introduced. This allowed managers "control over massively engineered and extremely complex projects" (Sisk, 1998). During the 1960's, "Richard Johnson, Fremont Kast, and James Rosenzweig described in their book The Theory and Management of Systems how a modern business is like a human organism, with a skeletal system, a muscular system, circulatory system, nervous system, and so on." (Sisk, 1998) These techniques are still used today.

After PERT, nothing happened to project management over the next 45 years. Then, "Dr. Goldratt's book outlines the application of Theory of Constraints to a project management environment." (PQA, 2005). Then CCPM software for project managmenet was developed.

References:

Sisk, Tony, November 12, 1998, "History of Project Management" [Electronic Version] retrieved on February 26, 2006 from http://www.sims.berkeley.edu:8000/courses/is208/s02/History-of-PM.htm or can be downloaded into Microsoft Word form from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c1f9b881-d879-4b54-b07b-55041685f15f&displaylang=en

Process Quality Associates Quality Inc., (PQA) 2005, "History of Project Management" [Electronic Version] retrieved on February 26, 2006 from http://www.pqa.net/ProdServices/ccpm/W05002001.html

Max's, 2006, "Project Management Wisdom" [Electronic Version] retrieved on February 17, 2006 from http://www.maxwideman.com/issacons2/1275.htm

Gido and Clements, 2006, "Successful Project Management" Thomson Corporation, Mason, OH 45040