Information technology project managers need to have a wide variety of skills.
They should be able to decide which particular skills are more important in different situations while heading information technology projects. Schwalbe (2010) noted that project managers particularly those managing information technology projects must be able to make effective use of technology as it relates to the specific project. They must be able to make effective use of technology with special product knowledge or experience with the information technology industry (Schwalbe, 2010). Some of the most important skills include leadership, communication, negotiation, problem solving skills. Project managers must also have credible and ethically accepted behavior. Other important skills, information technology project managers should posses include integrity, strong at building teams, have conflict resolution and management skills.
Project managers in the information technology field should have excellent management skills to carry out the projects goals successfully. Project managers in this industry should possess exceptional communication skills because they spend time talking with their team, sponsor and senior management throughout the organization (Taylor, 2004). Project mangers heading information technology projects should have good negotiating skills. Negotiating skills are essential when faced with issues relating to scope, cost, and timetable objectives relating to project goals, change of scope, resource assignment and allocation and team conflicts (Taylor, 2004).
According to Schwalbe (2010), good information technology project managers must focus on getting the job done by paying attention to the details and daily operations of each task. They should be individuals with good leadership and management skills, such as being visionary, inspiring, organized and effective (Schwalbe, 2010). They should be focused on the bottom line and on achieving positive results. Information technology project managers must have working knowledge of various technologies and understand how a particular project will enhance the business (Schwalbe, 2010).
Most of these skills and knowledge in project management are developed through learning and experience. Some project management skills such as leadership are innate while other such business and soft skills are not inherent. This implies that information technology project managers must be willing to learn and develop more technical skills to be productive team members and successful project managers.
