Need Advice

[CMPM]

I am Project Manager but have mainly handled Construction Projects. I am now looking to change my field to IT or general project management. Any advice on how I can make the switch? What skills/knowledge do I need to acquire if I want to be in the IT field?

 

[johnherman]

Well, it's quite a jump. While you have the basic framework for proj mgmt, there are many differences. For instance, construction validates quality by inspection, whild IT involves testing, and testing of various types. For instance, there's functional testing, meaning you test what you build, but there's also regression testing, which tests whether the addition you just made (and tested in functional testing) happened to break anything else. For an analogy, if you're putting an addition on the house, you need to insure that adding the new electrical circuits didn't overload, weaken, or break any existing circuits. In addition, you will be inexerienced at estimating activity durations, and will need to rely completely on the team for these estimates - that might not be completely bad, as sometimes PM's underestimate times or the skill factors of their project staff.

Wow, it's quite a jump. I suggest, if you can, that you be an assistant PM working with an experienced IT PM for the first few projects. At least that way you'll know what you don't know and can focus on building skills in those areas.

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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright

 

[CMPM]

johnherman,

Thanks for responding. What you have mentioned makes a lot of sense. Infact, I have talked to a few recruiters and they also say that I should start at a Project Coordinator level and move from there. I am trying to make the switch, slowly and steadily. Thanks once again.

 

[stevepm]

Slowly and steadily is the way to go. With that approach, although it won't be instant, you will be able to make the switch and be quite successful. I think another important tip to remember is that you should as being learning. The more you sharpen your mind, the better you will perform.

Regards,

Steve Mark

How I Pass the PMP Exam for the PMP Certifiaction

http://www.pmguide.net/Recommended/F1/PMPrepcast.php

 

[Babynus]

Hi,

First, to manage IT Projects, the best is to have IT knowledge.
Second, you should know that managing IT teams will be to manage high competencies teams. Maybe not the same with construction. You cannot easily replace one resource with another one, and your resource capacity is not infinite.
Last, managing IT Project is mostly based on workload management. I think constuction mosly uses fixed duration planning. The good exemple is MS-Project tool : is was first designed to manage construction projects, and first versions were not adapted to IT Project. That is mostly why MS introduced the notion of "effort driven" tasks.

Good luck for your change !

Babynus
Administrator of

http://projectorria.toolware.fr

website
"free tool to help you manage your projects"