Another way to look at project resolution is by comparing the value of successful projects with the waste of challenged and failed ones. The IT community is just beginning to understand the true role of the project manager, the skill required to be a good project manager, and the benefits a project manager can bring to any project. Standish research clearly shows that projects are likely to be less challenged and more successful with a competent and experienced project manager on board. Benefits include reduced project expense, higher company morale, and quicker time to market. The skills most CIOs cite as desirable in a project manager include technology and business knowledge, judgment, negotiation, good communication, and organization.
Emphasis is on business skills rather than technical credentials.
Moreover, project managers must know not only the business needs of their own company but also those of suppliers and partners. Many of the CIOs we interviewed said that the best IT people make the worst project managers. In the skills area of project management, the focus is on softer skills, such as diplomacy and time management. Unless there is a political advantage for the function rep, this can be a hurdle to effective project management. Thus, an investment in a Dale Carnegie course can return a bigger dividend than the latest technology class.