Responsibilities & Challenges of IT Project Management

Main Responsibilities of an IT Project Manager

Today’s IT project managers (IT PM) must be able to juggle a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. They must be able to handle firmware and software integrations, website construction, database storage and management, and also build complex and geographically diverse infrastructures and networks, all while planning for potential security and data risks.

Throughout their projects, an IT PM is responsible for setting goals, communicating and motivating team members and stakeholders, identifying the right resources for each task, researching, managing change, performing needs assessment, and properly sequencing tasks.

Additional responsibilities of the IT project manager include the following:

• Project planning and overall management

• Promoting and achieving project support

• Ensuring overall capability with existing technology

• Minimizing duplicate work

• Utilizing team member skills

• Controlling costs and maintaining budgets

Additional Resources:

• Understanding IT Compliance

• IT Roadmaps and Successful Technology Roadmapping

Challenges Faced by IT Project Managers

The complexities and interdependencies of large-scale, long-term, diverse IT projects are among the most challenging issues of IT projects. Here are a few more top challenges faced by IT project managers:

• Making multiple assumptions when integrating different hardware, networks, and software to the existing system.

• Unclear expectations from the business, end-users, and stakeholders.

• Rapidly changing technology, leading to necessary mid-project upgrades that can affect timelines.

• Geographically diverse offices and remote work associated.

Additional Resources:

• What Experts Say About IT Demand Management

Tips for Successful IT Project Management

Successful IT project management combines the implementation of standard project management best practices with the art of managing conflict, change, expectations, and more.

The first step is selecting a project management methodology that fits the skills of your team and the project objectives. Once you have that set, here are some tips to help make your next IT project a success:

• During initiation: Be sure you have assessed whether the project is a good use of resources and whether the project outcome will satisfy a business need.

• During planning: Complete your project charter, and have a good understanding of task dependencies and how missed milestones could impact overall timelines.

• During execution: Over-communicate and host daily stand-up meetings to discuss status and any project blockers.

• During monitor and control: Ensure you have the right PM tool in place that enables you to monitor progress in real time.

• During closeout: Do a project retrospective that answers what went well, what could have been better, and what you would change next time.

Reference: https://www.smartsheet.com/content-center/best-practices/project-management/project-management-guide/project-management-IT