Introduction
In the modern business scenario, in which everything needs to happen a lot faster, firms are dealing with multifaceted projects that demand both technical and leadership capabilities. This is when a Technical Project Manager (TPM) comes into play. As a combination of solid project management skill set and technical expertise, TPMs are essential to make sure that projects are completed with the right timing, cost and to the maximum level of quality.
Be it the software development process, IT infrastructure, or projects related to engineering, technical project managers connect the technical and the business stakeholders. In this article, we will learn about the work of a technical project manager, what skills are needed, what are the best practices, and how to best perform them.
Who is a technical project manager?
A technical project manager is supposed to plan, implement, and manage technical projects and ensure that all the elements reflect business outcomes. Unlike conventional project managers, TPMs possess their comprehensive knowledge of the technical side, which permits the ability to communicate freely with developers, engineers, and IT personnel.
They are the glue between technical implementation and the strategic goals so as to allow effective communication and problem solving in the project lifecycle.
Major Duties of a Technical Project Manager
1. Project Planning
- The establishment of project scope, objectives and deliverables.
- Developing the project schedules and delegation of duties.
2. Team Coordination
- Directing across the functions.
- Supporting communications among the technical personnel and stakeholders who were not technically savvy.
3. Risk Management
- Early detection of possible problems.
- Designing contingency plans that reduce breakages.
4. Resource and Budget Management
- Being effective in allocation of resources.
- Making sure that projects are within the budget limits.
5. Quality Assurance
- Monitoring testing/validation.
- Assisting in the quality of deliverables.
What is required in a Technical Project Manager?
An effective TPM has to be a combination of technical skills and soft skills:
- Technical Knowledge:That is knowledge of programming, knowledge of systems or engineering know-how.
- Leadership: Inspiring and calling to action groups of people around a similar purpose.
- Communication: communication is interpreting large technical information and converting them to working valuable information.
- Time Management: Getting things on time and prioritize.
- Problem-Solving: Quickly solving problems to ensure that projects are on track.
Optimum Practices of Technical Project Management
1. Take advantage of Agile Methodologies
- Agile or Scrum approach will help fix flexibility and cooperation.
- E.g. stand-up meetings every day to discuss progress and blockers.
2. Right Tool
Project management solutions such as Jira, Asana, or Trello can be applied to monitor the progress, delegate tasks, control deadlines.
3. Build Open Communication
Communication channels are open to assure that everyone is in the same page and that possible issues are identified as early as possible.
4. Commitment On Life Long Learning
Remaining updated with industry trends and the new technologies promotes improved judgments.
Issues That Technical Project Managers Encounter
- Scope creep:It is when the demands of the project continue to grow by expanding beyond what was initially planned.
- Balancing Technical & Business Needs:Making sure we provide quality of the technical work but do not compromise on deadlines.
- Stakeholder Misalignment:Closing the gap between expected and the expected.
Become a successful technical project manager
- Develop Technical Expertise: Get to know the main underlying technical processes in your industry.
- Build your Project Management Skills: Develop Project Management certifications e.g. PMP, Prince2, Agile Certified Practitioner.
- Real-World Experience: You can use small projects to start and build your portfolio.
- Connect and Communicate: Gain experience with other practitioners.
Conclusion
Being a project coordinator does not imply being a technical project manager since a technical project manager is concerned with problem solving, leading and thinking strategically in order to make sure that complex projects run smoothly. It offers you an opportunity to chart career success and to leave an indelible mark in any organization by ensuring that you master the technical knowledge and project management skills.
FAQs
- How does the difference between a project manager and a technical project manager look like?
A technical project manager will possess project management capabilities as well as technical knowledge unlike a traditional project manager who is more on coordination and planning.
- Does a technical project manager have to code?
It is quite helpful in case you know more or less basic code or the technical workflow.
- What are the technical project management hiring industries?
Software development, health-tech, engineering, telecommunications, and IT industries.