MANAGING THE DELIVERY OF A SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROJECT MANAGER

Project managers are the unsung heroes—they are the people who make sure the project goes according to plan.

They steer the team and client back on track when the unexpected happens and ensure everyone is on the same page every step of the way. 

“If each Haneke project was a ship, our project managers would be the Captains. We each have our roles to play to keep the ship on the right course, but without a Captain, we have no heading and no clear direction,” says Haneke’s Product Strategist, Aaron Abell. 

To better understand the value of a project manager, let’s first dive into the definition of their role.

What is a Project Manager?

Project managers are the people who oversee projects throughout their entire lifecycle; they ensure a project’s success.

WordThere are variations within the project management position depending on the industry, but the general responsibilities stay the same.

These responsibilities include: defining the scope of the project, keeping the project on schedule, planning a project’s cost and sticking to a budget, managing project resources, communicating with clients/stakeholder, assessing and managing risks and much more.

“Most days, I have at least one or two meetings with clients, plus a few internal meetings. When I’m not in client meetings, I’m preparing agendas for meetings, documenting recaps and action items from meetings, communicating with our internal teams, and updating work items in Basecamp and Shortcut.”  explains Project Manager, Mary Kate Downing. 

Given the range of tasks a project manager is responsible for, it’s no surprise that their skill sets are equally as vast and varied. With that said, all great project managers excel in the following areas: leadership, communication, organization, time-management, problem-solving, attention to detail, and working with a team.

Why is a Good Project Manager so Important?

From initiating a project to creating a project plan, then executing that project plan and closing out the project, a project manager (PM) oversees and is involved in every step. 

“We can’t assume that our team knows what they need to be working on or what to prioritize. A good team can self-organize, but it’s our job to enable that by clearly communicating what work needs to be done, the priorities of those tasks, and when those tasks need to be completed.“ Gillian Cline, Haneke’s Project Coordinator, explains.

At Haneke Design, our project managers are the glue that hold our projects together. They keep our projects and our team on task throughout every phase of the project lifecycle. 

PM’s are the main point of contact for all client communication, and they ensure that all initiatives and goals are strategically aligned and that all goals and deliverables are met with efficiency and quality.

 Both internally, with our team, and externally, with our clients, our project managers run the show.

“They have their hand in every area of the project, and they are responsible for organizing and coordinating  all the different moving parts to ensure a seamless process and a high-quality result.  Without them, we’d be at a loss.“ says Marketing Coordinator, McKenzee Herron.

In fact, without good project managers, every company or organization experiences loss. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), organizations that undervalue project management report an average of 50% more of their projects failing outright. 

At Haneke Design, we know just how important our project managers are to the success of our projects and, thus, to the success of the company. 

Want to know more about how our team can help you with your project? Contact us today to set up a introductory call with one of our project managers!