I feel like this many times, do you?

I feel like this many times, do you?

Project Manager as Victim

Like many star performers, my friend comes to her work with a belief in her ability to accomplish what she sets out to do. This may seem like a truism, but it is absolutely essential to your success as a PM. You must believe that your project can be done with the team you have, in the time you have, and without super-human efforts.

If you do not believe that your project can be done, you must come up with a solution before you do anything else. If you fail to heed this advice, your project will fail.

Beginning project managers, and especially those coming from a business analyst or development background, are often used to receiving clear task assignments. This is not generally the case in the PM role. A project manager is expected to “hit the ground running”, “make things happen”, and otherwise shine. Most project managers are responsible for multiple concurrent projects. This means that a new project manager must come prepared knowing how to prioritize. There is often minimal external guidance available.

It’s easy in such a situation to feel powerless, frustrated and angry. In other words, victimized.

Hey folks,

Have you guys logged into diddya.com ....

I tend to agree bala. One point here is about the team. When we set for a project the team might have been decided, before we know about the requirements and skills required to complete the requirements.
I have recently completed PMP, which encourages me to say NO, ask for what we require and to use the power of the PM. This approach may reduce the helplessness we face many time.

Thanks. CK

I do agree Project Manager is victimized when his immediate superior is in trouble and agreed to business without consulting the project manager about actual work involved in various projects assigned to him.

If you say NO then his superior will try hard to remove you from the project.

vijaya PMP

Kudos to Vijaya for telling the TRUTH.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

Right now, I am in a similar situation.

God, when will I get out of Project Management?

Guyzzz,

I agree with you that project manager becomes victim of the situation, especially when it gets worse. But that is the part of PM ,which most of the other professions doesnt possess. Enjoy it yaar... Always there will be brickbats being thrown over the project manager... It all matters , how you still manage and keep moving forward..

Rgds,

Yuvaraj

I think the point is quite clear. Project Managers are the victims of the situation most times. And the reason is to start 'low' in the organization. This is actually speaking tons of the organizational culture.

Its often the vague definition of the role of the project manager that is misused by the management. This vague definition makes the Project Manager the 'weakest link' in the political constellation. The client is always right and the boss is always right. So, the screw-ups should be owned by the interface.

But those in projects would well know that this is very common. You have partially hit the key on accountability. I believe the 'recency effect' where the management only focusses on 'what have you done for me recently' really puts one in a tight spot. It affects your references as well. Hence, moving directly out is a risky proposition.

I think you need to change the company, not the field!

Hai, that was a good note from our guest,ngurjar.

As stated in many places, in many organisations, PM has only responsibilities and no authority.

Resource requirements, providing resources, nuying decisions etc etc are by somebody else who is not accountable for the project.

Matrix style is the most important reason for all this. None of the resources is accountable to the PM, their performance reviews are not done by the PM (that is done by the respective functional heads who would just want to show time booking of all his/her people irrespective of the status of the Project.

This HAS to change.

Then ONLY the PM can function effectively.

Bala

role clarity, transparency, responsibility and authority and of course skills and knowledge( both subject and conflict resolution)--some of the prerequisites that contribute to the success of the project.

All easier said than done in real life situations.


Perhaps an unusual or unexpected response in this forum--
send positive thoughts/ vibrations to the troublafter the prayers-- in case one does not pray, pl start .

And remember- all professions have their hazards. the grass is always green on the other side

Best wishes ca_bala

excellent post from ngurjar.

transparency, role clarity, authority and responsibility in addition to skills ( job related and conflict resolution) add to the success of the project.

this is part of the professional hazard!!

All professions have such hazards.

A response not expected in a forum like this---
send positive vibrations sincerely to the trouble maker esp after the prayers. if one does not normally pray, better start.

best wishes ca_bala

dr madhusoodanan