Every successful project has a competent team to ensure that all the factors needed are developed. This team is often referred to as the Project Management Team. The members of the Project Management Team include specialists with specific responsibilities that enable the effective coordination of various activities ranging from planning to closure. Additionally, for anyone who wants to sit for a PMP exam, it is essential to know the functions of a Project Management Team. So, in this blog, we will discuss the functions of the positions in the project management team and their contributions towards project success.
What is a Project Management Team?
A project management team is a group of professionals with assigned roles and responsibilities for the successful delivery of a project ideally someone who has the project management certifications. They are usually a team that includes a project manager, and several team members each of whom has some specific skills and knowledge. The team must coordinate their efforts to develop and implement the project plans, its progress and budgets, change requests, and finally, project closure.
Moreover, a project management team is not only for performing tasks but also for leading project works, managing resources, conveying ideas, and overcoming challenges in the project milieu. Furthermore, a competent project management team plays a crucial role in determining whether or not the project has been successful.
Key Roles in a Project Management Team
The members of a project management team can be impacted by the project’s scale, scope, and difficulties. But in virtually every project management team, a few critical positions are vital.
1. Project Manager
A project manager is the only person who can give a project a strong sense of vision when it needs to be handled. Usually, the project management professional certifications are linked to this role.
Responsibilities:
- The project manager is also in charge of creating the project plan as well as the size, price, and resources of the project. It includes the definition of project management deliverables, defining key activities, and defining project control activities.
- It makes sure that what is planned for the project is effectively carried out as planned, that is, activities in the project are implemented as scheduled. They direct the work of the project team and allocate and inspect the work to be done.
- Oversees the team, measures the effectiveness of the completion of the project goals, and identifies and addresses risks to ensure the outcomes are achieved on time. These include communication tools and project management methodologies to guarantee the project quality and compliance with the project standards.
- Communication as well as stakeholder relations are the responsibility of this position. A project plan serves to ensure that project stakeholders, such as clients, are aware of some important aspects of the project.
- Final products, documentation, and evaluation of the project remain the responsibility of the project manager.
2. Project Sponsor
Usually, a senior executive or other passionate entity, the project sponsor gives the project team the tools, power, and encouragement they need to accomplish the project’s goals.
Responsibilities:
- To ensure alignment with the organization’s strategic direction, the goals and objectives of the project are defined in this way.
- Identifies what resources a particular project will require, such as money, manpower, and other equipment.
- It has responsibilities in managing project-related decisions, including any change in the nature, costs, or duration of the project.
- Coordinates communication with stakeholders in a way that ensures they are content with project progress and on the side of the project.
3. Project Team Members
The project team includes people who do the tasks and activities needed to complete the project. Additionally, these could include developers, designers, engineers, analysts, and other experts, based on the needs of the project.
Responsibilities:
- They have to work by the quality control as well as the time frame set by the project manager.
- This involves getting in touch with other team members and sharing ideas and resources to fulfill project goals.
- Team members report periodically to the project manager describing their activities and any concerns that may impact the project.
4. Project Coordinator
The project coordinator assists the project manager in handling the regular tasks of the project. Also, this role usually acts as a starting point for those taking the profession in project management and getting a PMP certification.
Responsibilities:
- It assists in the creation and management of the project schedule, whereby tasks in the project are accomplished within a given time frame.
- The coordinator is also supposed to ensure the project documentation; records may comprise; meeting minutes, progress reports, and project plans.
- Conveys the project’s status and changes to the project manager, team members, and key stakeholders.
5. Risk Manager
The task of evaluating, locating, and controlling risks that might affect the project falls to the risk manager. Furthermore, this function might be separate in bigger projects, while the project manager might handle it in smaller ones.
Responsibilities:
- Risks that may be there to affect the success of the project may be financial, technical, or operational risks.
- Evaluates the probability and consequence of each risk, which helps to prioritize potential threats to the project.
- When taking a proactive role in minimizing risks or preventing them from affecting the project in question, the project manager formulates measures to keep the project on schedule.
6. Quality Assurance Manager
The project’s deliverables are checked by the quality assurance manager to make sure they meet to the necessary standards. Furthermore, this position is essential in sectors like software development, manufacturing, and construction where quality is important.
Responsibilities:
- The quality assurance manager devises a project quality plan, which includes the specifications on how the project deliverables should be designed and made.
- Assesses the project processes and products for compliance with the set quality level.
- The quality assurance manager supervises the activities of testing and inspection and points out defects or issues.
7. Procurement Manager
Getting the products and services required for the project is the responsibility of the procurement manager. Particularly in projects involving substantial outside resources, this function is crucial.
Responsibilities:
- The procurement manager connects vendors that can meet the needs of the project when conducting a procurement schedule.
- Connect and evaluate providers to make sure they deliver goods and services on time and within budget.
- Accountable for handling agreements and legal matters and ensuring that all charges are met under contract.
8. Change Manager
The change manager is in charge of overseeing modifications to the project’s budget, timeline, or scope. Thus, in most projects, change is natural, and the change manager makes sure that it is handled effectively.
Responsibilities:
- The change manager scans for changes that could affect the project, arising from stakeholders, the environment, or the organization.
- Evaluates the effect that every change will have on the goals, timescale, and cost of the project.
- Coordinates the communication and execution of the approved alterations in a manner that will ensure they are incorporated into the project management plan effectively.
9. Communications Manager
The communications manager’s responsibility includes keeping everyone updated on the project’s status, difficulties, and updates. Effective communication is key to the success of projects and is also vital in handling stakeholder expectations.
Responsibilities:
- Finally, the communications manager creates a communication schedule that guides by who, when, and how the project information is to be disseminated.
- Communication with all stakeholders occurs throughout the project, especially when addressing concerns or issues that arise.
- Generates periodic reports about the project which is equipped with all the necessary data to make the right decisions.
Importance of PMP Certification for Project Management Team Roles
The PMP certification is one of the owned and most respected certifications in the domain of project management. It is required by the PMI and confirms that the holder carries the required knowledge, skills, and experience. In many organizations and mainly for those team members associated with project management, PMP certification is a key achievement.
- The PMP certification is international and therefore presents as a profitable acquirement for project managers.
- The PMP certification is envisioned upon the PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), which directs a uniform project management approach. Hence, this means that every PMP-certified personnel will always be in a position to know the various project management aspects.
- Having a PMP certification can lead to other higher levels of project management jobs in India since many employers look for or demand people with PMP certification.
- PMP certified specify to earn more than those who have not been certified. So, the salary report based on PMI reveals that individuals who obtain PMP certificates earn 25% more compared to PMP non-certified individuals.
Conclusion
A project management team can be looked at as the core of each project, as it integrates people with various competencies and abilities to address a particular challenge. Furthermore, each individual within the team has a defined role that includes the project manager who oversees the entire process, several contributors who work on a task, and several experts charged with risk, quality, and communication responsibilities. Well, of course, if the goal is to become a project manager or advance one’s position from a lower-level employee, the PMP credential is hard to resist. From a positivist standpoint, it asserts what you have learned and what you can do, as well as your value, dependability, and job marketability within the expanding and competitive field of project management.
Sign up for PMP certification online training today and advance your career to the next level!
