Which of the eight traits/skills associated with being an effective project manager is the most important? The least important? Why?
I need Peer review of both discussion 100 words each so total 200 words. Both discussions are attached
Requirements: 200 Words
Discussion 1 by HARSHA MARELLA
Discussion 5
Harsha Marella
Executive Masters in Project Management
(BADM-637-A02): Strategic Application in Project Management
Dr. Carolyn Green
University of Cumberlands
Sep 28, 2023
Discussion Week 5
This week read for the chapter’s cover essential concepts like project optimization via project time reduction and cost reduction the author in chapter 9 emphasis why organizations opt for project duration decrease and how a project team can implement steps to reduce the duration of the project. The author introduces tips and techniques to follow when a resource surplus is available and when it is not available for the team to use in order to reduce project duration The author also provides the benefits and liabilities that can happen while any team try to adapt to either methods for example when resource surplus is used to reduce the project duration one factor that can cause an issue is inflation of cost and the project management has to make sure that they are prepared for such a risk when adopting surplus resource. In chapter 10 Author talks about how a project manager can be effective and efficient with his projects and what qualities, skill, operational knowledge is required to carry out project task as effectively as possible. The Author describes the importance of building relationships, partnerships and effective communication channel early so that project can be monitored and controlled effectively this also gives project manger the capability and leverage to show of the skill and performance of his and his project team attracting other stakeholders and customers for the project team. Author terms effective project managers been skilled at acquiring and exercises wide range of influences thus helping them mange project more interactively which generates trust and reliability. In conclusion the author wanted to summarize the chapter as a best practice article to do effective project management.
Which of the eight traits/skills associated with being an effective project manager is the most important? The least important? Why?
The Eight most critical traits/skills that a project manager should have: are as follows
Great communication skills
Risk management skills
Critical Thinker
Leadership skill
Team Player
Great delegator
Effective time manager
Optimist
The most important trait that a project manager should have is that they should have great communication skill. Projects are not solitary operations they require qualified team or group of individuals to come together to implement and achieve success. Great communication skill is required for any one to pass information from one to another as per their required mode of choice meaning a project manager should have the skill to arrange effective communication channel as per the stakeholder’s choice. Great communication skill is required to understand and pass relevant information to the project team.
All the 8 mentioned Skill/Traits are important for a project manager to have. But out of the Eight the least important trait according to me will be optimist this is because in general cases it is advised that a project manager should be an optimist to ideas but pessimistic when implementing and having an optimist trait is useful for some scenarios but does not play well in a lot of others.
It is possible to shorten the critical path and save money. Explain how.
Yes, it is possible to shorten the critical path but there will be obvious tradeoff that the project manager has to be aware. The tradeoff can be base on the quality, scope, cost and duration. In an ideal scenario quality and scope will either increase or decrease but duration will definitely be prolonged. It is project managers job to select which necessary bad pill he wants to digest as in any scenario there can be positive and negative impact on the project. In general during project scheduling all these factors are planned and shortening of critical path is always nor recommended but in case it is a requirement then it should be exercised where projects indirect costs cost should be monitored and the project management should seek to resolve costs related to these activities as soon as possible
References
Aubry, M. (2019). Planning and organizing. Advancing Human Resource Project Management, 178-205. .
Deal T. E. & Kennedy A. A. (2000). Corporate cultures: the rites and rituals of corporate life. Perseus Books.
Larson, E., & Gray, C. (2021). Project management: The managerial process (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Watt, A. (2019). Project Management, 2nd Edition. BCcampus Open Education.
Wysocki, R. K. (2019). Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme. Newark: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Stanton, K. (2021). Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control: What’s the Difference? Qualio. https://www.qualio.com/blog/quality-assurance-vs-quality-control.
Discussion 2 by Niva Chitrakar
Question 1
Depending on the situation, the kind of project, and the team engaged, different characteristics and talents may be more or less important for a project manager. However, because each trait and talent contribute to a project manager’s total success, it is difficult to declare with certainty which is most or least crucial. However, offer some insight as to their relative significance and why they matter:
Leadership: One of the most important qualities for a project manager is frequently thought to be leadership. Effective leaders make crucial decisions, ensure everyone is in line with project objectives, and motivate and guide their employees.
Communication: Excellent communication abilities are essential. Project managers must communicate information properly, engage in active team member listening, and support efficient team communication.
Time Management: Time management is essential for maintaining a project’s timetable. Project managers need to establish and adhere to deadlines, allocate resources wisely, and modify plans when unforeseen delays arise.
Problem Solving: Projects usually run across issues and barriers that need to be solved. Strong problem-solvers can address problems as they come up and keep the project on schedule.
Risk Management: Project success depends on properly identifying, evaluating, and managing risks. Project managers should be adept at foreseeing future problems and coming up with solutions.
Team building: It’s crucial to have a motivated team. Project managers with strong team-building skills may stimulate collaboration, improve team morale, and increase output.
Adaptability: In the fast-paced corporate climate of today, adaptability is crucial. Project managers need to be flexible enough to pivot when circumstances call for it.
Technical Knowledge: Having technical knowledge in a certain sector may be essential, depending on the project. For instance, having a thorough understanding of the subject area can be quite helpful in IT or engineering projects.
It’s crucial to remember that the relative significance of these qualities and abilities might change from project to project. For instance, technical expertise could be crucial for a challenging project whereas leadership and team-building abilities might be more important for a group of highly talented employees.
Moreover, depending on the situation, the “least important” quality or ability can change. When the project manager lacks the necessary technical knowledge, a team of experts may be able to fill in for them. Technical knowledge may be less important in these situations, but leadership and communication abilities are still crucial.
In the end, being a successful project manager frequently involves a well-rounded combination of these qualities and abilities, and the significance of each can change based on the unique requirements and difficulties of the project. Successful project managers are flexible and play to their strengths while continuously enhancing their weaknesses.
Question 2
Yes, it is feasible to shorten a project’s critical path, and doing so can actually result in cost and resource savings. Shortening the critical path results in an earlier project completion, which can lower costs in a number of ways:
Reduced Labor Costs: You’ll spend less time working on a project if it is completed sooner. This can save money, especially if your project requires paying contractors or team members hourly wages or salaries.
Lower Overhead Costs: Projects frequently have overhead costs including rent for office space, utilities, and equipment. These recurring costs can be decreased by reducing the project’s duration.
Less Risk Exposure: The longer a project takes, the greater the likelihood that dangers will manifest. Your exposure to potential risks is decreased by shortening the critical path, which can help you save money by preventing expensive problems or delays.
Faster Return on Investment (ROI): Shortening the critical path allows you to begin collecting the benefits of the project’s anticipated revenue or benefits sooner. The overall financial success of the project may be significantly impacted by this.
Consider the following tactics to reduce the critical route and save money:
Resource Allocation: Provide more resources for tasks on the critical route. This can entail adding more team members, offering more tools or equipment, or contracting out a few tasks to knowledgeable vendors.
Task Dependencies: Examine the limitations and task dependencies. Find jobs that can be completed concurrently rather than sequentially, as this can shorten the duration of the entire project.
Fast-Tracking: Even though it uses more resources, some tasks can be combined by shortening their deadlines. This process of “fast-tracking” entails beginning the subsequent task before the last one is finished entirely.
Crashing: If you have the funds available, you can employ the “crashing” strategy, which entails devoting more time or resources to urgent activities in order to complete them more quickly.
Scope Adjustment: Adjusting the project’s scope will help you find any non-essential features or requirements. You can streamline the project and shorten the time needed for completion by eliminating extraneous components.
Risk Management: Risk management is the proactive management and reduction of risks in order to avoid unforeseen delays and disruptions.
Efficiency Enhancements: Constantly look for methods to make project activities, procedures, and processes more efficient. Adopting cutting-edge techniques or technology may be necessary for this.
Project Management Tools: Use project management software and tools to track development, spot bottlenecks, and prioritize resource allocation.
While cutting the critical path can result in cost savings, caution must be exercised to prevent overtaxing resources or sacrificing quality. Successful project management requires a balanced strategy that takes into account limits on cost, time, and quality. To guarantee alignment with project goals, stakeholders should also be notified of and participate in any modifications to the project’s timeframe or scope.
References
Alexander, M. (2023). 10 traits of highly effective project managers. CIO. https://www.cio.com/article/276269/project-management-six-attributes-of-successful-project-managers.html#:~:text=An%20effective%20communicator,is%20the%20most%20critical%20skill.
Manage your project’s critical path – Microsoft Support. (n.d.). https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/manage-your-project-s-critical-path-bc692e65-6245-45cf-86b7-f7115c965d2f
Six, T. (2020). To Shorten The Critical Path. Ten Six Consulting. https://tensix.com/to-shorten-the-critical-path/
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