Discovery Resources

by Matthew Lane PMP, Director of Client Services, Fios, Inc.

There are several ingredients mixed into the “stew” of a great project manager.  It starts with a base of the right personality type mixed in with several cups of  targeted training, and finished off with a dash of certification.  Consider the elements presented below when looking for a 5-star project manager:

• PMP Certification: The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is the gold standard that establishes the individual’s knowledge and experience in project management (for more information, see The Project Management Institute). This certification is recognized worldwide and is a sure sign that project management is taken seriously within the organization.  To achieve certification, a project manager must complete three components:  experience in project management, sufficient project management training, and passing the dreaded 200-question PMP examination that thoroughly covers the 44 project management processes with their associated 600+ inputs, throughputs and outputs (whew!).
• Project Management Training:  Training provides a rich foundation for developing project management capabilities.  The most valuable training time is onsite and shared with project management colleagues within the organization (though online training is also available).  Training programs such as those provided by ESI-International in partnership with George Washington University utilize gifted and experienced instructors that provide a platform for intense discussions that apply directly to your organization’s current situation.  Good training serves as the basis for shared knowledge and provides the groundwork for establishing a project management program, which ensures sound project management principles and techniques become embedded in the context of your organization.   Many of these training programs offer Masters Certificates in project management, though that level of commitment is not absolutely necessary.
• The Project Manager Brain:  My opinion on this issue comes from 15 years of project management experience and from developing and managing project teams at two different organizations.  The hard truth is, simply completing numerous training courses and passing the PMP does not necessarily mean you will be a great project manager.  A truly effective project manager possesses innate management abilities that can’t be learned.  For example, you may wish to become a great point guard in the NBA.  You can study, attend training camp, and become competent at playing basketball — but if you don’t have certain physical abilities (run fast, jump high) you likely will never be great.  The same principle applies to project managers.  To identify the “project manager brain,” here are a few personality characteristics to consider:

1. 1. they work well across many different organizational groups, and speak multiple departmental languages;
   2. they are naturally anal retentive and obsessive.  They worry about things and expect others should worry as well;
   3. they are pit-bull tenacious (but in a nice way);
   4. they are good communicators themselves and often “monitor” other people’s conversations to ensure true understanding is really occurring during meetings; and
   5. they know when to “dive deep” into an issue, but can also scan broadly across all tasks and issues.

I hope these suggestions help identify a truly remarkable project manager, and  I’m interested in your opinions around this topic – please feel free to comment!

Filed under Discerning e-Discovery.

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