Most times, managers and leaders are perceivedto have the same meaning and duties in an organization. This could be because managers are expected to play leadership roles. However, leaders and managers differ in terms of roles, characters, and positions in any organization or project. For the successful running of a project or organization, managers should aim to be leaders.
A leader’s role is to initiate or introduce a policy while a manager oversees the implementation of the policy. A leader identifies a problem, evaluates and analysis it, and latercomes up with a solution. After the discovery of the solution, a leader hands it to a manager who overlooks its implementation. A manager allocates duties to employees who ensure the achievement of the set objectives.
A project manager is an overall overseer during the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of an IT project. An effective project manager should switch from management to leadership roles. They should actively participate during the planning phase, where they should offer theirexpertise in finding the best solution to a business. Rather than being given a planned project to implement, a good project manager should analyze and evaluate the viability of the proposed project, identify involved stakeholders, come up with a development plan and budget and assess the possible risks.
A project manager controls the creation and organization of tasks during execution. They should come up with an implementation team, define the role of each member and provide guidance on how to perform. The manager should identify and provide necessary resources to the team. To be effective, a project manager has to be a good communicator with the team and other stakeholders. They also monitor and assess the quality of work performed by teammembers and manage the budget.
At the closure stage, a project manager analyzes the team performance and quality of the project. They must document all aspects of the project, making sure all expectations are met. They should also conduct post-implementation reviews and account budgeting.