What Is Leadership and Does It Apply to Project Management - Research Paper Example

Human Resources and Communications in Construction Project Management Topic: Leadership – What Is It And Does It Apply To Project Management? Surname Educational Institution Executive Summary Topic The report has been prepared in order to highlight the importance and significance of leadership for an effective and successful project management. Moreover, the report has also focused to briefly discuss the skills, roles and responsibilities that a leader must need to possess in order to accomplish overall goals and objectives of a project. Background The background of this study involves major phases in the project management and the role of the leader in each stage along with various risk factors which are likely to be faced by the leader in different stages of the project management. Moreover, the background of this discussion has also included major concerns and possible consequences that are faced by the modern organisations in order to successfully accomplish the major objectives of the project management. Scope The discussion of this report significantly focused on leadership relevance and its significance in the project management approach. The report has also enclosed key concepts and skills that a leader must need to possess in order to successfully achieve the desired goals and objectives from a project. Furthermore, the report will be beneficial for the organisations in order to deal with various risk factors that a project might face in the present day context and the way efficient leadership can deal with those factors. Methodology The research method followed in the report is secondary approach. A few pertinent literatures and scholarly articles have been studied and reviewed in order to comprehend the study topic related concepts. Results/Findings It is observed that the dimension of leadership prominently applies in the context of project management. Leadership enables to guide a project on the right path ensuring appropriate and timely completion of the project requirements. Recommendations Consultative autocratic style of leadership can be followed by a project leader to manage a project efficiently. Table of Contents Name Surname 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 5 Relevance of Leadership Approach in Today’s Project Management Context 6 Key Concepts of Leadership in Project Management 7 Current Major Concerns of Leadership in Project Management 8 Direction of Leadership and Its Significance in Current Research 10 References 13 Introduction Project management can be considered as one of the major management paradigms, which enables the business organisations to effectively and efficiently achieve their business goals within the constantly changing phase of the business environment. Project management can be differentiated with the various standards of the business operations with respect to focus on uniqueness, timescales, financial projection, resources, risks, and uncertainties as well as the major activities regarding skills, tools and processes of project management. An effective project management facilitates the organisations to execute various business competencies to effectively handle differing uncertainties, risks along with the pressure of its competitors within the existing market (Laureate Online Education, 2010). Leadership is recognised to be a pertinent factor in any sphere of business management. A decisive leadership outlook demonstrated by a manager enables to take crucial and appropriate decisions which are generally for the betterment of an organisation. Similarly, in the periphery of project management processes also leadership can be observed to be a key factor in order to resolve any concern as well as discuss various important factors in different steps of the project. Therefore, the report intends to briefly discuss the significance and applicability of leadership during various phases of project management. Moreover, the report will also reflect with regard to the relevance of leadership and its different pertinent features within the practice of project management. Furthermore, discussion will be focused on exploring key concepts of leadership process and considering its current major concerns in the project management module. Relevance of Leadership Approach in Today’s Project Management Context A project leader can be considered as one of the key persons of a project who sets the track in an endeavour to achieve desired goals and influences people within the project management schedule to significantly follow the guidelines. Leadership is an important as well as an essential aspect of a successful project management. It can be observed as a vital factor for influencing members in order to accomplish desired outcomes. An effective leader guides the subordinates through determining the vision, providing effective directions as well as ensuring that they key processes of the entire project are appropriately being followed. Therefore, an effective and successful leader must need to possess certain skills and qualities in order to efficiently handle various project management issues (Whitaker, 2008). In this context, the dimension of leadership and its significance in the project management context significantly carries out an essential part in order to effectively and efficiently direct and support each of the staff in the various processes of project management. A leader assigned with the task of directing a project significantly involves in setting objectives as well as in preparing effective strategies in order to successfully achieve those objectives. A project engages various types of processes in order to successfully achieve the project objectives and goals. The leader or the project manager significantly performs certain roles and responsibilities and engages in each step of the project. The various project management stages include programming stage, identification stage, formulation stage, financing stage, implementation stage as well as evaluation stage of the project (Central Finance & Contracts Unit, 1993). Key Concepts of Leadership in Project Management According to the present day context, leadership approaches in project management considers various practices in order to efficiently deal with varied concerns related to a project. Therefore, the leader or the project manager must need to handle various tasks in order to successfully accomplish the objectives of the project, which comprise: Integration and Scope Management: Integration and scope management in project management involves determining the suitable path or track of a project and identifying appropriate strategies in order to manage the scope of a project (Jacowski, 2010). Human Resource Management: A leader needs to look after the members of the project teams along with motivating and encouraging them through providing an efficient and appropriate direction to the project (Jacowski, 2010). Time and Cost Management: This is one of the major tasks for the project managers or the leaders in terms of scheduling and allocating staff as well as managing required funds for the entire project (Jacowski, 2010). Quality Management: Quality management in a project involves meeting or maintaining the ultimate quality parameters of the processes that are set earlier in a project. A leader is considered as the ultimate authority to ensure that the required quality is maintained in a project (Jacowski, 2010). Communication Management: A leader assigned to a project needs to build an effective and clear communication process with the aim of dealing with each of the members involved with the project (Jacowski, 2010). Risk Management: A project may involve various types of risks in different steps of the process. Therefore, the leader must need to develop contingency plans in order to successfully deal with various risk factors within the processes (Jacowski, 2010). Procurement Management: Procurement management tasks within a project involve identifying and managing project related materials and tools that are required in the process. Moreover, it also involves managing suppliers and vendors in order to successfully accomplish the project objectives (Jacowski, 2010). Moreover, an effective and successful project manager or leader possesses certain competencies and abilities that are varied and cover the complete reflection of human individuality and personality. In this context, the key concepts of leadership ability that the project manager needs to possess are personal skills, technical skills as well as knowledge of the organisation (Pearson, 2000). Current Major Concerns of Leadership in Project Management In recent times, it is recognised that a project involves various number of challenges in different phases of the process. With this concern, the project managers are significantly facing different types of problems in order to successfully accomplish the project objectives. Those issues are significantly characterised as lack of project management abilities; lack of lucidity and simplicity in scope management of the project; inappropriate managing of project changes; changes in organisational priorities as well as inappropriate preparation of the project sponsors and investors (Business Improvement Architects, 2012). Lack of Project Management Abilities Project management skills are the core competencies of a successful project manager in order to achieve the overall objectives of the project. Project management skills involve the abilities of a project manager to efficiently plan, organise and monitor various processes within a project. An effective and successful project manager significantly possesses the ability to efficiently utilise the major competencies related to the project. There is a requirement of effective training and development programs in order to develop the skills and the abilities of the project managers. According to the increasing development of the modern organisations, it becomes essential for an organisation to create effective training and development programs for the project managers in order to successfully evaluate each competency during the process of the project (Business Improvement Architects, 2012). Lack of Lucidity and Simplicity in Scope Management of the Project In the context of present day scenario, it has been observed that project management involves various technological advancements with regard to easily and efficiently accomplish the projects’ objectives. The modern organisations are highly focused to invest more interest on deploying technological aspects in various phases of the project in order to minimise time and cost of the organisation. However, it remains as a crucial drawback for the organisations in terms of organising or preparing new project for the company if the project leader is unable to fathom the key technological aspects related to a project. As it is considered that scope management phase in a project is one of the major and initial steps, it should highly focus to provide a clear depiction for the leader in order to successfully accomplish the overall objectives. Therefore, the leaders should highly focus to develop the scope management in more simpler and understandable way in order to significantly accomplish the overall objectives of the project management (Whitaker, 2008). Inappropriate Managing of Scope Changes in Project Management Scope changes in a project management frequently require modification in order to maintain an effective balance with regarded to cost, quality, time and to avoid certain usual risks. These changes can significantly impact on the overall process of the project management. Thus, a project leader needs to develop plans in relation to various processes which can further impact on stakeholder involvement. Therefore, the organisations need to exploit effective contingency plans in order to prevent risks of upcoming threats (Pearson, 2000). Inappropriate Preparation of the Project Sponsors and Investors An effective training and learning process for the sponsors and the investors of the project efficiently helps leaders in order to increase the excellence of the project as well as the process also helps to reduce future risks. The training program for the sponsors and investors provides an understanding with regard to their expectations. It also enables to control project related issues or problems, and support the managed project which in turn facilitates to maintain an appropriate schedule of the project (Chandler Arizona, n.d.). Direction of Leadership and Its Significance in Current Research In light of recognising the importance of leadership and for comprehending its significance in project management approach, it is imperative to observe the various literatures and their viewpoints regarding the aspect. Leadership is recognised to be one of the vital dimensions in order to accomplish the tasks and the objectives of a project. Different analyses have discussed the importance and the significance of the leadership approaches in various phases of the project management. According to the observation of Dominick, Lechler and Aronson (2004), it can be stated that the implication of the effective leadership in the project management is one of the major elements for an organisation in terms of successfully accomplishing the desired outcomes from a project. The project manager or the leader involves in a series of tasks that are imperative within the project management. The leader faces various challenging stages from the initial setup to closing step of the project management. Especially, the leader of the project management must need to manage team members as well as stakeholders and take the responsibility from the project’s bottom-line through appropriate examination of various elements related to the project management (Dominick, Lechler & Aronson, 2004). Moreover, it can also be found from the analysis made by Balogun (2008) that project management often requires a continuous effort from the leader assigned with the task of meeting the requirements of a project in order to accomplish each goal of the managed project. An effective leader significantly possesses potential skills in keeping with the aspect of meeting the expected outcomes from the overall objectives. Therefore, it becomes essential for an organisation to select an appropriate leader for a project in order to properly plan, organise, and manage various roles in the project management process (Balogun, 2008). Conclusion and Recommendation Possessing leadership qualities is an important aspect for a project manager in order to successfully accomplish each process in a project. A consultative autocratic style of leadership will be beneficial in order to resolve any kind of issues and problems in different divisions of the project. With this concern, the project manager is required to share the problems with each individual of his/her team and make decisions according to the various information and ideas of the team members (Chandler Arizona, n.d.). With due consideration to various influential aspects, it can be recognised that the project manager plays a leading role in order to accomplish the objective of each phase of the entire project. More significantly, an effective project considerably involves various management steps such as integration management, scope management, time management, cost management, quality management, human resource management as well as risk and procurement management. Therefore, it can be acknowledged that the project management possesses an effective framework including various aspects of leadership and managerial activities to accomplish the overall objectives of the organisation. References Balogun, M., 2008. Leadership in Project Management: Exploring Roles & Behaviours. [online] Managing Consulting Projects. Available at: http://www.cmc-canada.ca/Member_Benefits/documents/LeadershipProjectManagement.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Business Improvement Architects, 2012. The Top Project Management Challenges. [online] Available at: http://www.bia.ca/articles/TheTopProjectManagementChallenges.htm [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Central Finance & Contracts Unit, 1993. Project Cycle Management Training Handbook. [online] Training Action for Project Cycle Management. Available at: http://www.cfcu.gov.tr/SPOs/TOOLs/PCM_Training_Handbook.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Chandler Arizona, No Date. Project Management Methodology & Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Successful Projects. [online] Project Management Methodology Guidelines. Available at: http://www.chandleraz.gov/Content/PM000PMMethodologyGDE.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Dominick, P., Lechler, Th. & Aronson, Z., 2004. Project Characteristics and Project Leadership: Understanding Sources of Uncertainty in Project-Based Work. Stevens Alliance for Technology Management 8(3), [online] Available at http://howe.stevens.edu/fileadmin/Files/research/HSATM/newsletter/v08/v8i3/dominicklechleraronson.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Jacowski, T., 2010. The Role of Project Managers. [online] Project Smart. Available at: http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/pdf/role-of-project-managers.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Laureate Online Education, 2010. Introduction to Project Management. [online] University of Liverpool. Available at: http://success.ohecampus.com/success_images/documents/syllabi/Syllabus-Introduction_to_Project_Management.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Pearson, 2000. Basic Skills for Project Managers. [online] Available at: http://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/samplechapter/0130219142.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Whitaker, S., 2008. Great Leadership in Project Management. The Study of Leadership. [Online] Available at: http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/who_we_are/organisation/branches/Documents/Great_Leadership_in_Project_Management_Report_wo_PR.pdf [Accessed October 15, 2012]. Read More