Being an Effective Project Manager 1. Influence as Exchange – Influence is based on mutual benefit. Example: A manager supports an employee’s idea in exchange for their commitment... Being an Effective Project Manager 1. Influence as Exchange – Influence is based on mutual benefit. Example: A manager supports an employee’s idea in exchange for their commitment to a tough project. 2. Commonly Traded Organizational Currencies – Includes resources, assistance, recognition, and relationships. Example: A project manager offers visibility to a team member in return for extra effort on a task. 3. Social Network Building – Creating relationships to improve communication and resource access. Example: Connecting with stakeholders early ensures smoother approvals later. 4. Stakeholder Map – Identifying and analyzing key project influencers. Example: A project team charts out stakeholders’ interests and power levels to manage engagement. 5. Dependency Map – Visualizing dependencies among tasks or teams. Example: A software team maps critical module dependencies to avoid bottlenecks. 6. Management by Wandering Around – Engaging informally with the team for better oversight. Example: A manager casually checks in on employees to identify issues before they escalate. 7. Qualities of an Effective Project Manager – Leadership, adaptability, and communication skills. Example: A project manager adjusts the schedule when a key resource is unavailable. Managing Project Teams 1. High-Performance Teams – Teams that collaborate effectively toward goals. Example: A marketing team works seamlessly to launch a product ahead of schedule. 2. The Five-Stage Team Development Model – Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. Example: A new software team struggles (storming) before setting workflows (norming). 3. Situational Factors Affecting Team Development – Factors like culture, structure, and deadlines. Example: A team in different time zones adjusts meeting schedules to collaborate effectively. 4. Orchestrating the Decision-Making Process – Ensuring decisions are timely and inclusive. Example: A manager gathers input from all departments before choosing a new tool. 5. Managing Conflict within the Project – Resolving disagreements for team cohesion. Example: Two team members debate a design choice; the manager mediates a compromise. 6. Project Team Pitfalls – Issues like poor communication and lack of trust. Example: A project fails because team members work in silos without sharing updates. Outsourcing & Managing Interorganizational Relations 1. Outsourcing Project Work – Delegating tasks to external vendors. Example: A company outsources IT support to focus on core business operations. 2. Best Practices in Outsourcing Project Work – Clear contracts, communication, and expectations. Example: A company provides detailed guidelines to an outsourced team for quality control. 3. Advantages of Long-Term Partnership – Trust, efficiency, and cost savings. Example: A manufacturer keeps the same supplier for years, reducing procurement costs. 4. The Art of Negotiating – Finding a win-win agreement. Example: A project manager negotiates a discount for bulk software licensing. 5. Dealing with Unreasonable People – Staying calm and finding common ground. Example: A client demands an impossible deadline, so the manager negotiates phased delivery. 6. Managing Customer Expectations – Aligning expectations with reality. Example: A manager updates clients weekly to avoid surprises about project delays. Read more