Competency: Project Management

Definition: Project Management (PM) is a complex set of activities including defining the scope, planning the implementation, creating a timeline, allocating resources, managing risk, execution/implementation, coordinating different teams/individuals, and monitoring progress. Several important skills are required including: communication, teamwork, leadership, interpersonal and technical.

Leadership Skills

Leadership
Management
Establishing Focus/Direction
Managing Performance
Supervisory Skills
Persuasion and Influence
Project Management
Delegation
Performance

Assessments Measuring Project Management Skills:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)

Defining the Scope

Defines project outcomes based on customer requirements.
Outlines the key objectives for the project.
Meets with stakeholders to determine the requirements for the project.
Understands the financial, strategic, resources, staffing, timeline and market risks that may impact the project.
Understands the budget constraints for the project.
Defines the project scope, goals, and resources.
Determines the project scope.
Assesses the ability of the organization to handle the project.
Establishes the scope for the project.
Accurately estimates for the costs and work involved in various phases of projects.
Determines appropriate short and long-term goals.

Planning the Implementation

Anticipates potential problems and institutes controls and contingency plans to address them.
Creates the implementation strategy for the project.
Maps out the project, timeline, resource requirements, metrics and communication.
Creates a vision for execution of the project to ensure coordination across all teams.
Accurately determines the number of staff needed for the project.
Plans and implements responses to potential threats to the success of the project.
Estimates the staffing requirements for the project.
Formulates the schedule for the project phases, resoures usage, and benchmarks.
Researches potential solutions to meet the constraints of the project.
Accurately determines the number of engineers required for the project.
Identifies critical requirements for each phase of the project.

Creating the Timeline

Identifies the project time and budget constraints.
Plans who, when, and what work needs to get done.
Outlines key project dates and milestones.
Estimates the duration for each phase of the project.
Determines the correct order for the phases of the project.
Documents the sequence of steps needed to complete the project.
Schedules project phases and tasks to facilitate successful completion of the project.
Estimates the time needed for each phase of the project.
Establishes the sequence of steps needed to complete the project.
Adds the necessary time buffers to avoid the project getting behind schedule.
Creates a schedule for the different phases of the project.

Resource Allocation

Maintains costs and expenses within budget limits.
Develops a plan for resource management.
Procures the resources necessary to complete the project.
Locates the financial resources to budget for the project.
Identifies the source materials that will be needed.
Locates the equipment and supplies needed for the project.
Acquires and allocates internal and external resources needed for the project.
Correctly estimates the cost of supplies for the project.
Ensures resources are utilized at the appropriate levels for each phase of the project.

Managing Risk

Identifies potential risks that could pose challenges to the project timeline.
Identifies risks to each phase of the project.
Identifies potential risks to completing the project on time.
Identifies the potential risks for each phase of the project.
Investigates potential risks of different courses of action.
Determines the appropriate strategy for mitigating specific risks.
Documents the risk assessments for different parts of the project.
Conducts a risk assessment for each phase of the project.
Implements risk mitigation strategies to help move the project to successful completion.
Conducts a risk assessment for the project.
Creates a risk management plan and periodically updates it as the project moves forward.

Implementation

Responds quickly and appropriately to unforeseen problems.
Ensures that the project remains at or under budget.
Changes the implementation of specific phases of the project to mitigate certain risks.
Ensures work is completed to the appropriate standards.
Determines the project strategy for implementation.
Implements project metrics to track progress.
Ensures the project is executed on time and on budget.
Establishes targets, plans, and measures of employee performance.
Able to coordinate and manage infrastructure for systems and processes.
Able to coordinate interdependent phases of projects.
Implements quality control and quality assurance systems and processes.

Coordination

Able to adjust project schedule as needed to accommodate unforeseen issues.
Develops action items, workplans, timelines, and criteria for projects.
Organizes work and sets priorities as needed.
Organizes, plans, and directs resources to accomplish the goals and objectives.
Keeps accurate records regarding the costs of various aspects of the project.
Prepares contingency plans to avoid supply chain disruptions.
Coordinates timelines, events and tasks with various sub-groups within the project.
Manages various facets of the project to keep it on track with the delivery date.
Presents clear and accurate status information to required constituents.
Coordinates the activities of various teams and departments.
Plans, organizes, and controls all aspects of projects.
Manages complex systems and processes.

Monitoring Progress

Regularly reviews project performance and goals.
Develops performance measures for various aspects of the project.
Prepares and utilizes QC Checklists to ensure high quality.
Follows progress on the project from initial phase to completion.
Monitors finances to ensure optimal use of project funds.
Creates the metrics used to measure progress on the project.
Monitors timelines and milestones to ensure set benchmarks are met.
Decides what metrics should be used as milestones for the project.
Regularly measures and records progress of the project.
Follows through with the project cycle from start to finish.

Communication Skills

Creates the communications that will be used throughout the project's implementation.
Communicates with the teams often to ensure that the deadlines are met.
Establishes communication protocols for messaging team members and stakeholders.
Communicates the results of the project, at the conclusion, to all stakeholders.
Coordinates communication between the project team and stakeholders.
Communicates with all employees involved on the project.
Communicates with the necessary stakeholders if the budget targets are missed.
Keeps stakeholders informed of progress on the project.

Teamwork Skills

Assigns project roles to the team members.
Fosters an environment that promotes collaboration among team members.
Makes sure all team members understand their roles.
Determines the roles for project team members.

Leadership Skills

Inspires others to accomplish goals and objectives.
Inspires the project implementation team to achieve success.
Hold team members accountable for completing specific tasks on the project.
Influences and challenges others to exceed defined goals.

Interpersonal Skills

Works with customers and clients to assess their needs and define project parameters.
Engages stakeholders and team members in open discussions.
Successfully negotiated contracts with suppliers.
Interacts with stakeholders regarding the outcomes required by the project.
Engages with individuals internally and externally to support the implementation of the project.
Holds meetings with supply-chain vendors regarding acquisition of resources.
Works with both internal and external individuals to facilitate the project.
Develops and maintains strong relationships with suppliers and contractors.

Technical Skills

Uses scheduling software to create and monitor the timeline.
Effective at using video conferencing software to manage remote teams.
Has the requisite industry knowledge to manage projects in this field.
Uses appropriate software tools to assist in managing the project.
Uses appropriate technology to efficiently communicate with team members.
Initiates large projects.
Has detailed knowledge about the project and can adapt the project plan as needed.
Understands what software tools are available to be used to manage the project.