I realize that many of us on the project management side can’t fathom this even being a question. A project without a manager! How does that even work? Calling all project managers – have you ever been thrust into that situation on a project where the customer questions your ‘value’ to the project? They wonder why your hours are so expensive or maybe they even have their own project manager and wonder why you’re even on the project. Have you ever experienced that? Well, I have. Only once – but it wasn’t fun.
Most project managers have experienced the engagement when the customer was a little less than thrilled to be paying a high hourly rate for someone they considered to be somewhat ‘expendable.’ And if it hasn’t happened to you yet, it probably will at some point. Most customers are fairly well educated in the process of project management and understand the importance of having a trained, experienced project manager leading a group of resources on a creative project designed to benefit their customer approach, greatly enhance their web presence, or possibly provide them with an entire marketing overhaul. They understand that without proper oversight, chaos would likely ensue. But there are still those customers who see the project manager being billed at sometimes the highest rate on the project and they wonder what they are really getting for their money.
Most project managers have experienced the engagement when the customer was a little less than thrilled to be paying a high hourly rate for someone they considered to be somewhat ‘expendable.’ And if it hasn’t happened to you yet, it probably will at some point. Most customers are fairly well educated in the process of project management and understand the importance of having a trained, experienced project manager leading a group of resources on a creative project designed to benefit their customer approach, greatly enhance their web presence, or possibly provide them with an entire marketing overhaul. They understand that without proper oversight, chaos would likely ensue. But there are still those customers who see the project manager being billed at sometimes the highest rate on the project and they wonder what they are really getting for their money.
