Choosing the right Project Manager (PM) is a key success factor for any IT project, especially in complex environments such as e-commerce or system integrations. Below is a compendium of the most important competencies, practices, and approaches that should distinguish an effective PM and serve as selection criteria for clients looking for a manager for their project.
1. Transparency and partnership communication
A good PM ensures open, regular communication with the client and the team. They organize cyclical status meetings, prepare clear summaries, and react quickly to emerging challenges. They ensure all stakeholders have access to current information and encourage reporting needs and comments. A partnership approach builds trust and fosters effective cooperation.
2. Prioritization and task filtering
A key competence of a PM is the ability to filter requests and prioritize tasks. A good Project Manager collaborates with those responsible for gathering requirements to ensure that only the most important and well-described tasks reach the team. This avoids resource distraction and allows focusing on key business goals.
3. Focus on business value and efficiency
A Project Manager should advise clients on which features are “must-have” and which are “nice-to-have,” ensuring a balance between business value and implementation costs. Concreteness, courage in decision-making, and clear communication of implementation possibilities within a given budget and timeframe are traits that every client will appreciate.
4. Partnership relations and team development
A good Project Manager builds partnership relations with both clients and the team. They support competence development, share knowledge, and encourage open exchange of experiences. They take care of onboarding new people and support implementations, which translates into better cooperation and team efficiency.
5. Iterative approach and flexibility
A Project Manager should apply an iterative approach, dividing work into smaller modules and organizing regular meetings. This allows for ongoing progress monitoring, valuation verification, and scope adjustment to changing business needs. Flexibility and readiness to modify the roadmap are essential traits in dynamic projects.
6. Attention to UX and solution simplicity
The PM should strive to make solutions simple and intuitive for the end user. Processes should not be forcedly complicated – any changes should be introduced with real user needs and business efficiency in mind.
7. Automation and system integration
In modern IT projects, the PM should understand the importance of process automation, system integration (ERP, PIM, CRM), and implementing modern tools (e.g., automatic synchronizations, status indicators, API integrations). Attention to scalability and ease of maintenance is an important aspect of a Project Manager’s work.
8. Documentation and formalization of arrangements
All scope changes, valuations, and key decisions should be formalized – an effective PM prepares documentation, contract annexes, and clear email summaries. Transparency in documentation and billing builds trust and minimizes the risk of misunderstandings.
An effective Project Manager is a person combining pragmatism, flexibility, and partnership communication. They focus on transparency and real business value. Clients, when choosing a project manager, should look for these exact competencies and practices – they guarantee the efficient realization of goals, project security, and satisfaction of all parties.