The project manager is the king pin around
which the whole organization revolves. He is entrusted with the task of
integrating the interdisciplinary and interorganizational efforts under
changing environments efforts under changing environments for successful
accomplishment of the specified objectives. He operates independently of the
normal organizational chain of command, with the sole aim of achieving the
specified goals within the available resources. He assumes total responsibility
and accountability for the success or failure of the project. In particular his
responsibilities include team building, financial control, contract management,
technical management, resources management, interface management and quality
management. His functions vary with the nature of the project and
organizational setup, but his roles which refect the behaviour patterns
identified with their specified position are similar in almost all types of
projects.
Ten related roles of the project manager,
generally, conforming to ‘Managerial Role Constellation’ advocated by Mintzberg
are outlined below:
a) Figurehead role
The project manager, is the legal and social head of the project,
is the single focal point for making decisions, ceremonial functions and
symbolic duties.
b) Leadership role
As a leader, the project manager directs the interfunctional
efforts through a complex web of relationships created in the project
organization by building a performance-motivated organization a team of skilled
and experienced people who collectively face the challenges posed by the
people.
c) Liaisoning role
The project manager maintains contacts outside the organization,
deals with those activities which may involve correspondence and contact with
the concerned government officials contract vendors, professionals, and top
persons of the construction industry.
d) Monitoring role
The project manager focuses a planned approach for performing
tasks, and implements time, cost and quality planning and monitoring system for
the project that highlights the commitment of the project team to provide
assured results.
e) Disseminator’s role
The project manager transmits the relevant information received
from external sources and internal system to the concerned people in the work
place. This information may be written or verbal, formal or informal.
f) Spokesperson’s role
The project manager acts as the sole representative through whom
all communications with the client or other external parties are conducted
outside the project site.
g) Enterpreneur’s role
The project manager seeks and identifies opportunities to promote
improvements and needed changes.
h) Disturbance handling role
The project manager maintains organizational harmony by resolving
conflicts and diagnosing organizational behaviour an time. He applies
corrective action when the organization faces important unexpected
disturbances.
i) Resources allocator role
The project manager takes responsibility for allocating/altering
the project resources and makes any changes which are necessary to ensure the
availability of adequate resources on time. This role also calls for developing
and monitoring budgets and predicting future resource needs.
j) Negotiator’s role
The project manager negotiates important conflicting issues and
business related matters, both inside and outside of the project environment.
He represents the organization on major negotiations. In order to fulfill his
assigned role effectively and efficiently a project manager has to have
managerial skill, technical expertise, business acumen, leadership qualities
and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. He should be a person
with at least a degree or equivalent in engineering, architecture or quantity
surveying. He should have relevant management qualification and a wide
construction experience, at least few years of which should be on senior
positions in major projects.
