Interview with a Project Manager (part 1)

(based on real interview; names changed for privacy; pseudonyms in "quotes")

Interviewer 1 "John Smith": Key Techniques in Project Management

Being a novice in the project management field, I ("John Smith") thought there was a uniform science to project management, detailed and scripted, done to the smallest or lowest level. After interviewing a project manager from my company, I learned that they use some of the same basic principles and techniques of most project managers.

My first interviewee was "Lynn Jones", a ten-year project manager specializing in change management and acquisitions. She explained that she approaches each project with the understanding that they all will take on a life of their own, requiring attention and resources the previous project did not. The techniques she uses for each project are: identifying especially skilled individuals, open communication and constant feedback. She explained that hiring or selecting the right people for the right task reduces training time, and helps to establish a totally professional environment and task/project ownership. She often refers back to individuals she has worked with in the past that were successful. Another technique used is one that promotes open communication, entertaining thoughts and ideas from all associated with the project. She says that this is a great moral booster because everyone feels a part of the team with no authoritative tone set by her. Her final technique is constant feedback, which she says is the most critical. She explained that feedback for her is like the reins on a horse, to gain more control you tighten on the reins and when the horse reaches a steady gallop you loosen your hold. Depending upon the productivity of each break-out group she will have to give more feedback to them in an attempt to increase production and an awareness of time. On the other hand, she may only offer encouragement to those groups that are on schedule to successful completion.

Continue on to Part 2