Technological transformation across industries has led to several changes in the job market where we see a sudden rise in demand for a new cadre of professionals. Among the many professionals who are in demand today, there are IT Project Managers who are supporting businesses in their digital transformation and playing a key role in technology companies, by helping them come up with cutting-edge solutions.
If you are an IT professional and you want to plan your career, then Project Management is definitely one area you must consider for a better future. In this write-up, we will talk about IT project management and try to highlight some of the most important reasons why technical people from the Information Technology industry must consider a Project Management career. We also guide professionals on how to get into IT Project Management. Read on to find out.
Most professionals may already be aware of what project management is and how it benefits organizations/businesses. Here we will try to understand about IT Project Management and how it is continuously changing in recent times. Project management has been around for several decades now and the IT industry too has benefitted from PM methodologies to a great extent. However, project management has been transforming and playing a significant role in the IT industry in the last decade. With the advent of cloud computing, the spread of the internet, increased use of smartphones and with several technological developments happening in IT, businesses have been relying heavily on project management concepts. The aim is to gain a competitive advantage, achieve goals and grow. IT project management is quite different from most other types because here the clients’ requirement is subject to change continuously. The rapid developments in the technology front and the changing expectations of consumers are key drivers. Businesses, in order to remain competitive, should include most of the features that are currently available in the market. Since the features in the market keep advancing, the onus is on project managers to maintain good feedback channels and ensure the requirements are taken care of.
IT project management involves interaction with investors, clients, the technical team and other stakeholders. With more complex projects, there may be more technical specialists (including scientists) involved in the project. It is always good for the Project Manager to have good knowledge of Information Technology, to better understand the scope, the goal and the expected outcome from the project. Since the Project Manager will be interacting with the technical team trying to communicate the goals, it is always better if an IT professional who is trained in project management takes up the role.
Today, with rapid technology changes, all products and services are becoming more and more consumer-centric. In the field of IT, there is great pressure on the industry to come-up with products/services that meet the expectations of consumers. As the consumers’ demands are changing at a rapid rate, businesses badly need qualified project managers who can shoulder responsibilities and enable them to remain competitive in the market by delivering great products.
It is also true that with wave of new digital technologies, companies of all scales are turning towards new platforms to become more efficient and do better business. In order to ensure a smooth shift on to digital platforms, the industries will require several project managers who can work with the technical teams and all the stakeholders and ensure proper implementation/adoption of new systems.
IT projects do fail due to several reasons. There are instances where the budget cannot be managed and deadlines can’t be met. Surveys have shown that a small percentage of IT projects are usually completed as initially planned. With such being the scenario and in a highly demanding technology environment, it becomes essential for project managers to be well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead the teams to success. Getting trained in project management can help professionals achieve this.
Apart from the demand in the industry, one can look at the project management course as a growth driver and a step that leads to many possibilities in career. The knowledge and experience gained from a project management career can help individuals transform into entrepreneurs or business leaders. This is one of the reasons why institutions recommend project management courses to entrepreneurs as well.
To become a project manager, one can take up a short-term course where the aspirant is taught the concepts, techniques and exposed to real-world challenges. Lincoln University College, Malaysia is offering PG Certification program in Project Management in association with iNurture Education Solutions. It is a 3-Month course with Bootcamp session and practical training. Aspirants have an opportunity to learn in Malaysia during the course. The certification is globally recognized and can open-up new career possibilities for students.
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