What is project management? who is responsible for it and where exactly its used?
In: Economics
PMs don’t make the decisions for a project. They *organize* the decisions.
Think of scheduling the project, for instance. The building must be open on this date, which means the carpet must be installed no later than this date, which means the concrete must be poured no later than this date, etc. Also, the carpet people can’t be in the building at the same time as the plumbers, or whatever.
It’s the PM that keeps track of this, and says “have the concrete guys start pouring on this date.” And then keeps checking in with everyone to make sure they’re on schedule.
PM isn’t just schedule, it’s also minimizing the total cost, leveling out the work across the team (one woman can make a baby in 9 months, but 9 women can’t make a baby in 1 month) and keeping all the stakeholders informed and happy.
When someone in a meeting says “oh! should we check with group X to make sure we’re allowed to do Y?” it’s the PM that is responsible for figuring this out and handling it.
The schedule will have to slip a week or else the cost will go up $100,000? Who do you need to tell this to? When is the meeting to decide, and who is invited? What other changes have to happen (tell the carpet people to delay a week / tell the bank you need more money / whatever.)
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