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Project Managers - You're Hired! September 2008
12th October 2008
We’ve seen in The Apprentice that project managers are often in the firing line, but what defines the role of the project manager and how can having effectively trained project managers bring real benefits to your business?
Alison Wood, training development manager at Aberdeen-based project management training specialist, Monitor, talks to Your Business about how an effective project manager can drastically change the fortunes of a project, making them essential to the business process.
"Monitor has been delivering project management solutions, for over 20 years, with Association of Project Management (APM) accredited training at the heart of our portfolio. Within the portfolio we offer a programme of professional, competency based project management courses with cross industry relevance, delivered by experienced facilitators with applied industry knowledge and practical industry experience.
"In essence, the role of a project manager is to define, plan, monitor, control and deliver a project on time, within budget and to the required quality standards, whilst employing the best use of resource and effectively managing its stakeholders," explains Alison.
According to the Association for Project Management (APM), project management is the world's fastest growing profession. As such businesses cannot ignore the need to invest in the development of their project management staff in order to increase competitive advantage and improve productivity. Such investment can also result in higher levels of staff retention and loyalty.
"Although many professionals already possess the key skills which contribute to a successful project manager, including good communication and organisational skills, investing time and resource in enhancing and formalising these skills can bring real return on investment."
In the same way that the candidates on The Apprentice are desperate to become project manager in an attempt to prove themselves to Sir Alan, development of your project management skills can be a great way to impress your boss and fast track your career. Employers across all industries are looking for enhanced project management skills to speed up innovation and effectively manage change.
Alison continues: "The courses which we deliver are open to people from all sectors and disciplines and are designed to meet an individuals needs throughout their professional development. APM accredited training and qualifications are aligned to industry approved standards and as such are increasingly favoured by professional organisations to provide a consistent and recognised approach to project management best practice."
With the assistance of dedicated training specialists such as Monitor, project management is once again being recognised as a professional discipline which should be taken seriously when it comes to enhancing a business' bottom line.
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