Analytical Approaches to Technology

Project Managers, also called Project Leaders, are a key component to the successful completion of projects. Their primary responsibility is to ensure the success of the projects they are responsible for. A project manager formulates ideas that enable the company to prosper and grow and turn those ideas into projects. Once these ideas become projects, the project manager is responsible for the day to day operations relating to the task, reviews reports to ensure the project is on time and being developed according to standards, manages the project budget, reviews all deliverables before the client receives them, and performs follow-ups as needed.

A project manager has to have the ability to be a visionary when it comes to the growth of their company or department. Due to the philosophy of change, project managers need to be able to react quickly to changes in the market and develop ideas that result in project growth for their organization. A project manager needs to identify resources needed and assign appropriate responsibilities. They need to be well organized and capable of handling the day to day operations of the project. A project manager will ensure all project documents are complete and accurate. Project managers need analytical skills in order to project profitability, revenue and counteract potential losses. (Mariosalexandrou.com, 2007)

A Project Sponsor is the person or corporation that provides the direction and the funding for the project. (Schwalbe, p6) An example of a project sponsor would be an Executive Director, of a Mental Health Facility, deciding to purchase another building in order to expand its operations. The project manager would then be appointed to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget.

A project goes through four different phases: Concept, Development, Implementation and Close-Out.

In the concept phase the project is described and a project summary is created. A project team is created to determine the feasibility of the project and decide whether the project is worth pursuing. The team determines project goals along with the desired outcomes. In addition, the team determines the work involved and develops a rough estimate of the cost. A work break down structure is created to outline the project and its related tasks. Projects must pass the concept phase before going on to the development phase to ensure that money and resources are not wasted on doomed projects.

During the development phase, project teams create a more detailed project plan. The project is broken down into steps and standards are set for each step. In addition, the team develops specifications and a budget for each process. A schedule is created for the entire project and deadlines are implemented. Staff requirements are initiated during the development phase as well as determining which steps need to be outsourced. Policies and procedures required for the project are created during this phase.

Phase three of the project's life cycle is implementing