PROJ6000: Project Management Discussion on Competencies & Selection

This discussion post examines the critical role of project managers in successful project completion, emphasizing the importance of personal traits and competencies such as communication, leadership, and decision-making skills. It highlights how a project manager's ability to understand project goals, objectives, and requirements directly impacts project outcomes. The post analyzes the causes of project failures, including poor decision-making and inefficient project management practices, and stresses the need for experienced project managers with problem-solving abilities. It also discusses the significance of accurate requirement gathering, project objective identification, and a well-defined project selection process for ensuring successful project implementation. The student's response agrees with the importance of the project manager's role, the significance of technical expertise, and the need for basic project management knowledge within the team. It also emphasizes the importance of leadership and proper financial calculations before starting a project.

Running head: PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Principles of Project Management
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Initial Post
There is no denying the fact that project managers are an integral part of a particular
project and play a significant role in effective management of a project. Therefore, it is necessary
to identify and analyze the personal traits and competencies that are important for the project
managers to successfully complete a project undertaken (Alias et al., 2014). Manager of a project
has a responsibility of achieving the goals and objectives of a project, and for that, the project
manager is required to correctly manage the requirements, scope and objectives of the project
(Sunindijo, 2015). It is necessary for a project manager to possess a good communication skill
particularly because the project manager needs to communicate the project status and changes
implemented in a project to the entire project team (Lock, 2017). Apart from that, a project
manager needs to a good leader so as to motivate his team to successfully manage and complete
a particular project.
Success and failure of a project largely depend on project managers. It is the
responsibility of a project manager to understand the project goals, objective and aim, to
successfully complete a project. It has been observed that one of the most significant reasons
behind the failure of a project is improper decision making of the project manager (Marion Jr,
Richardson & Earnhardt, 2014). Apart from that, a particular project might fail because of the
inefficiency of the project team in, correctly applying the project management practices during
project implementation. Since the project manager of a team is in charge of managing the entire
project team, the project manager needs to be competent enough to identify the skills and
knowledge of the entire project team (Harrison & Lock, 2017). An experienced project manager
is expected to manage a team or a project in a more effective manner, in comparison to an
inexperienced project manager. An experienced project manager is able to handle a problem in a

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PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
more effective manner. In this context, it can be concluded that the problem solving ability of a
project manager is another important skill that a project manager needs to possess for successful
completion of a project.
Ineffective decision making and improper project management can largely affect the
implementation approach and the success of a project. For instance, the Queensland Health
Payroll project would not been a failure if the accurate requirements of the project could have
been identified at the beginning of the project. Therefore, it can be said that appropriate
requirement gathering and identification is necessary in order to ensure a successful project
implementation. The Queensland health payroll project would not have been a disaster if the
project manager had identified the project objectives in an accurate manner in the initiation phase
of the project. The project selection process should be associated with accurate identification of
the project needs and specifications so that a project plan can be prepared easily (Milosevic &
Martinelli, 2016). A project manager should ensure that the project implementation process is
carried out according to the plan in order to ensure that the project is completed successfully.
Reply Post
Yes, I agree with the fact that in modern business world, project management is
considered to be the most important instrument for the implementation and delivery of a project.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to the failure of a project, one of which
includes the presence of an incompetent project manager in the project team. A project manager
mainly identifies the goals and objectives of a project. An experienced project manager can
certainly provide better control of the project implementation process in comparison to a new

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PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
project manager. I agree with the fact that technical expertise is an important need for a project
manager.
I agree with the fact that many of the project cases can fail due to insufficient project
management. The project manager and the project team needs to possess basic project
management knowledge in order to ensure that a particular project will be completed in a
successful manner. It is true that a project manager needs to be a good leader in order to motivate
the team in achieving success in the project. It is quite essential for a project manager to evaluate
the basic needs and specifications of a project before undertaking a project. Appropriate
calculation of the return of investment, payback period and project profitability are essential
prior to undertaking a project as it helps in determining whether a particular project is viable and
not.

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References
Alias, Z., Zawawi, E. M. A., Yusof, K., & Aris, N. M. (2014). Determining critical success
factors of project management practice: A conceptual framework. Procedia-Social and
Behavioral Sciences, 153, 61-69.
Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Lock, D. (2017). The essentials of project management. Routledge.
Marion Jr, J. W., Richardson, T. M., & Earnhardt, M. P. (2014). Project manager insights: An
analysis of career progression. Organisational Project Management, 1(1), 53.
Milosevic, D. Z., & Martinelli, R. J. (2016). Project management toolbox: tools and techniques
for the practicing project manager. John Wiley & Sons.
Sunindijo, R. Y. (2015). Project manager skills for improving project performance. International
Journal of Business Performance Management, 16(1), 67-83.