Comments on: Do Project Managers Need to Know Content? http://www.pmhut.com/do-project-managers-need-to-know-content Tue, 22 May 2012 18:29:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Nick http://www.pmhut.com/do-project-managers-need-to-know-content/comment-page-1#comment-19387 Nick Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:49:33 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5015#comment-19387 @Glenn - many industries have dedicated Estimators. Estimating is often (and should be, depending of course on project budget) an entirely different job from PM. @Shim in general I agree, but certainly there are some crappy IT project managers and kick-ass Engineering PM's who you'd rather have the engineering PM do your IT project, or vice-versa. If all other things are equal, then yes I'd rather have the guy with the experience in the subject. Not to say subject matter expertise doesn't help. It definitely does. I'm only saying that the PM role is most definitely transferable. @Glenn - many industries have dedicated Estimators. Estimating is often (and should be, depending of course on project budget) an entirely different job from PM.

@Shim in general I agree, but certainly there are some crappy IT project managers and kick-ass Engineering PM’s who you’d rather have the engineering PM do your IT project, or vice-versa. If all other things are equal, then yes I’d rather have the guy with the experience in the subject.

Not to say subject matter expertise doesn’t help. It definitely does. I’m only saying that the PM role is most definitely transferable.

]]> By: Nick http://www.pmhut.com/do-project-managers-need-to-know-content/comment-page-1#comment-19386 Nick Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:46:46 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5015#comment-19386 Skills are definitely transferable. I moved from Construction PM to IT PM. Sure, I had to learn (a LOT!) but I think it has been a very successful transition. You can learn as you go as long as the team you work with is amicable to responding to your (perhaps dumb!) questions. I've been fortunate to work with folks who take the time to explain things when I don't understand them. More important than knowing the content is detail is knowing what questions to ask so you know enough to move the project in the right direction. Skills are definitely transferable. I moved from Construction PM to IT PM. Sure, I had to learn (a LOT!) but I think it has been a very successful transition. You can learn as you go as long as the team you work with is amicable to responding to your (perhaps dumb!) questions. I’ve been fortunate to work with folks who take the time to explain things when I don’t understand them.

More important than knowing the content is detail is knowing what questions to ask so you know enough to move the project in the right direction.

]]> By: Kris Kelso http://www.pmhut.com/do-project-managers-need-to-know-content/comment-page-1#comment-19291 Kris Kelso Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:14:24 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5015#comment-19291 I believe that content knowledge is essential to establishing trust, which is a major factor in project success. I described this very thing in an article about "the trust factor" in project management just a couple of weeks ago at http://blog.thekelsogroup.com/index.php/project-management-fundamentals-trust I believe that content knowledge is essential to establishing trust, which is a major factor in project success. I described this very thing in an article about “the trust factor” in project management just a couple of weeks ago at http://blog.thekelsogroup.com/index.php/project-management-fundamentals-trust

]]> By: Kerry Wills http://www.pmhut.com/do-project-managers-need-to-know-content/comment-page-1#comment-19230 Kerry Wills Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:27:37 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5015#comment-19230 I agree with both comments. There needs to be a level of fundamentals which are then complimented with empirical knowledge of the business and the area of development (e.g. IT, nuclear plant, etc). Thanks for the posts I agree with both comments. There needs to be a level of fundamentals which are then complimented with empirical knowledge of the business and the area of development (e.g. IT, nuclear plant, etc). Thanks for the posts

]]> By: Shim Marom http://www.pmhut.com/do-project-managers-need-to-know-content/comment-page-1#comment-19227 Shim Marom Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:27:47 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5015#comment-19227 In theory a Project Manager is a Project Manager is a Project Manager. In practice - if I had to choose for my IT Project between a Project Manager with IT experience to one with Engineering experience - who do you think I'm going to take? In theory a Project Manager is a Project Manager is a Project Manager.

In practice - if I had to choose for my IT Project between a Project Manager with IT experience to one with Engineering experience - who do you think I’m going to take?

]]> By: Glen B Alleman http://www.pmhut.com/do-project-managers-need-to-know-content/comment-page-1#comment-19161 Glen B Alleman Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:55:22 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5015#comment-19161 Kerry, Would a PM working in IT be able to apply her estimating skills at a nuclear power plant site? How about a PM in a social services provider applying risk management processes in manned spaceflight? Kerry,

Would a PM working in IT be able to apply her estimating skills at a nuclear power plant site?

How about a PM in a social services provider applying risk management processes in manned spaceflight?

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