Project management is a unique profession. Planning, coordinating, selecting deliverables, and finally completing the task
according to the customer or corporate criteria are all part of the process.
The role of an IT manager may entail managing an organization’s day-to-day IT needs, such as computer networks and servers,
and ensuring the daily efficiency of information technology systems.
An information technology project manager’s role is project-based. Therefore, each project is unique, and the IT project
manager must adjust according to the circumstances. In addition, each project has individual objectives. Thus, the IT project
manager must assemble a team of system analysts, software developers, and technology specialists to meet them.
What Does an IT Project Manager Do?
An IT project manager job description has various roles. They are responsible for bringing an organization’s new IT processes
to completion. An IT project manager’s actual tasks and responsibilities could include the following:
- You’ll be in charge of several IT projects from start to finish.
- Budgets for projects are created and managed.
- Communicate with key stakeholders, such as IT managers, vendors, and senior executives.
- Lead efforts in risk management and mitigation.
- IT metrics should be collected, analyzed, and reported.
The following stages will almost certainly be led by an IT project manager for each of these projects:
1. Initiation: project’s goal is established, and the project is started.
2. Planning: Because IT project plans are likely to require frequent revisions, it’s common knowledge that
planning will occur in cycles.
3. Execution: During execution, the entire team, led by the project manager, works on the tasks outlined
in the project plan to complete the project’s deliverables. The project can move to project planning as needed
throughout project execution.
4. Monitoring: The IT project manager “monitors and manages the work for the project’s time, cost, scope,
quality, risk, and other aspects.
5. Closing: This happens at the end of each phase and the project as a whole. It guarantees that all work
has been completed and approved and that ownership of the project has been transferred from the project team to operations.
Responsibilities of an IT Project Manager
Project management is a delicate blend of art and science. In today’s business world, project managers should be familiar
with all cutting-edge project management technologies and industry jargon.
In terms of people and resource management, today’s project management trends have expanded to encompass various industries.
So, without further ado, let’s go over all of an IT project manager’s most critical roles and responsibilities:
Planning Everything
In an ideal world, a project manager would devise a method to do more in less time. More results, higher quality, and more
client happiness are what I mean by more, whereas less refers to fewer resources and time. As a result, it is a project
manager’s responsibility to identify the quickest and most straightforward path to achieving whatever the client or stakeholder
desires. A project manager could use any approach for this, such as Agile, Waterfall, Prince2, etc.
Delegating Work Efficiently
It is vital to distribute responsibilities to teams intelligently in many situations, such as a large project or diverse
tasks involved in a project. It is a leadership style that every project manager must follow and master, and it eventually
becomes a project manager’s responsibility that must be learned over time. Managers should not abuse their authority by
assigning blame or denigrating team members. Tasks must be prioritized for team members for them to become more effective in their talents.
Monitoring Progress and Tracking
The majority of a project manager’s time is spent monitoring the progress of projects. After the project has begun, the project
manager must assess how far it has progressed and whether it is proceeding as planned. During the intermediate stages of the project,
several systems such as status reports, meetings, and informal updates are used to track progress. The project managers’ jobs will be
easier if they choose the right management system.
How can you become an IT Project Manager?
Technical and soft skills are often required for IT project manager positions. While a solid technical background is needed,
non-technical abilities such as managing activities, timetables, and presenting thorough plans are also required.
Also, Do Checkout Is Project Manager Career Path Beneficial?
Education
Candidates for an IT project manager position should have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology,
or a similar profession. While specific jobs may accept individuals with an associate’s degree or comparable experience, a
bachelor’s degree is usually desirable.
Employers may demand advanced degrees in business management or professional project management certifications, such as the
Project Management Professional (PMP)
or the Professional Scrum Master.
Skills
Project management abilities and experience are required for IT project management. Technical skills aren’t always essential,
but they are frequently sought and can provide you a competitive advantage in your application. In addition, a combination of
project management and technical IT skills can help you get a job as an IT project manager. Apart from this, the skills required are:
- Communication skills
- Management skills
- Discipline
- Negotiation skills
- Critical Thinking
- Leadership quality
Nail the job application
Your resume should speak for you. Create and high and professional resume for the interview. Your project management and
IT experience should be highlighted. What were your responsibilities, and how did they affect you? What technical principles do you understand?
How much an IT project manager earns?
IT project managers are projected to see considerable job growth. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics,
computer and information managers are expected to expand by 11% between 2020 and 2030. In addition, the Project
Management Institute (PMI) predicts high job growth for project managers worldwide, with the sector growing
by 33%, or 22 million new jobs, by 2027.
According to Indeed.com, the average annual compensation for an IT project manager is $96,632. While this
is the national average for all IT project manager jobs, individual wages may vary depending on geographic
area, experience, education level, certifications, and industry.
Read More – Project Manager Salary Trends in 2022
How is Project Manager Role Changing?
Everyone, especially IT project managers, has had a strange year in 2020. As a result, many companies
have chosen to put new ideas on hold to focus on what were previously considered day-to-day operating objectives.
Almost a third (30%) of project managers expect their company or team to employ artificial intelligence
(AI) and automation more in the future. In addition, a fifth of project managers expects their team or organization to look for new software suppliers.
Conclusion
IT projects are also unique in that they regularly bring together previously unconnected groups of people.
Furthermore, individuals on an IT team working on a project may possess a high level of technical skill. However,
they may not be adept at converting technical knowledge into plain language that non-IT employees can comprehend.
This, along with the other issues, is why the IT project manager’s communication and leadership are essential.
To become an IT project manager, it is necessary to gain experience and renowned certification for better performance.
We provide extensive training courses on PMP Certification Course,
and CAPM Certification Course to make you a visionary
project manager for the long term. You can enroll today to start the preparation soon.
About Author
Janaki Ram
JanakiRam has over 15+ years of experience in the Software Industry including roles such as Project Manager,
Engineering Manager, Development Manager and Delivery Manager. He has end to end experience in successfully
delivering projects on both Predictive and Adaptive (Agile) approaches. Started his career as a Microsoft Stack
Developer and has developed solutions encompassing various technologies like Web applications, Windows applications,
Database design and development, Cloud based development. He is certified on PMP (PMI), CSM (Scrum Alliance),
MCSD (Microsoft). He is also a PMI-ATP-PMP Instructor.