Complete both discussions. Please create a new thread for each theme and identify in the subject line the theme for which you are responding. In responding to the discussions and to other students, please be sure to use the course material using in-text citations and a reference list to cite the source(s) used. Remember, an in-text citation cannot exist without having a corresponding reference list and a reference list cannot exist without having a corresponding in-text citation. Use of the course material using in-text citations and a reference list is always expected in the discussions and good practice for the assignments in the course.

Discussion 1A:

Project managers drive change and innovation. Reading about the history of project management shows you the innovation it drove in the past. Now take a moment to think about an exciting product or service that you use – it was also built by a team led by a project manager. Go onto a job search website (e.g. Monster, Careerbuilder, Indeed) and type in “project manager” as a search term. Note how many responses come back, then narrow the search to look for companies that provide the product or service you chose. See what types of project managers they are looking for and find a posting that you might be interested in. Explain where you looked and the number of jobs you found. Then explain why you chose that company, that particular job, and what the requirements are for that position. Include a link to the web page that contains the job description you chose.

Discussion 1B:

Watt (2014) makes a significant case for communication skills to be the most important skill or characteristic in a project manager. After communication skills, what is the next single most important skill or characteristic in a project manager to ensure project success? Defend your choice and be sure to use the course readings. (Choose just one skill or characteristic, then make a case!) If you choose to respond to others in this theme, select someone who identified a different skill or characteristic than what you chose and try to convince them why your selection is more important.

 

Business Discussion

Discussion 1A

Project management is a complicated process that includes ensuring that the project's goals are accomplished within the specified timeframes, in strict compliance with the agreed conditions, and within the original authorized budgetary plan. The choice between the project management methods becomes more difficult when the project is big, requires the use of technology, or has tight deadlines. After an extensive search on the m.indeed.com website, there were 97,301 job postings for a project manager which were distributed across all industries such as technology, service delivery, training and education, and among other industries. However, after careful consideration of the job postings, the requirements, industry, and benefits I settled on a project management job opportunity for Walt Disney World Resort.

The main reason for selecting this company among many others, within the same industry, and across other sectors is the fact that Walt Disney is a multinational corporation that handles a global market. Having a company that is in high demand globally, one could have a better career development opportunity either within the country or in other countries requiring a project manager in the development of various products. On the other hand, I selected this job opportunity since it offers a chance to work with the company’s leadership in the development and completion of various projects involving guests, cast, and facility. This will offer an opportunity to provide direction for the company in the managerial function and as such higher work return on investment. The job opportunity comes with various requirements. The applicant needs to have a degree in project management, more than three years of experience, and proof of working with many partners especially in the external environment. The job position also requires the applicant to have several technical skills such as basic computer operating skillsets.

Discussion 1B

            Project managers offer critical leadership for either a particular department or the whole company. A manager's primary responsibilities are management, supervision, strategy, problem resolution, delegating, and staffing. Project managers lay forth a firm's aims and objectives. Additionally, the administrators are accountable for controlling all regulatory operations to guarantee they are consistent with the organization's overarching goals and ambitions, both short- and long-term. Apart from communication skills which is one of the major skills a project manager should have, the next imperative ability is leadership qualities. On the onset, a project manager is a leader. Albeit the main responsibilities include managing a project or a team, in the context of the work requirements, the project manager needs to be a leader.

            It is imperative to note that as a leader, the project manager should be able to inspire a common vision among all stakeholders involved in the project's execution. The leadership qualities allow the manager to have a vision and the capacity to communicate it to all stakeholders. The creative project managers foster a sense of real involvement among participants. In response, they assist their colleagues in defining their vision and empower others to chart their course (Novo, Landis & Haley, 2017). As a good leader, the project manager encourages people to explore the vision's implications for their professional and personal lives and to see their future as a reflection of their department's strategy. Given that project leadership involves effective interaction about responsibility, objectives, outcomes, goals, and proposals, one might conclude that a successful project leader needs to be a leader first then, a manager. As leaders, they should be able to organize and exercise control efficiently while guaranteeing team and project success. The leadership approach to the project manager is important in managing people involved in the project and also respond to changes in the project plan, budget, project standards.