Project management q & A

Teresa Hill

1. What is your definition of project management?

The administration of time, cost, quality, resources, and risk of projects.

2. What are organizational structures, and how do they influence projects?

Organizational structures-in short-is how the organization is “set-up” to manage and support day to day operations. Organizationalstructure influences how resources and authority are delegated towards the project. For example Matrix and Projectized organizations allow for more authority and readily available resources. Staffs for projectized organizations are placed together and grouped by resources, thus

The project manager could have a high degree of authority over the departments and a substantial amount of resources are dedicated to the project

Project manger usually has his/her own supporting resources and substantially more authority to acquire and manage resources from within each department

3. Why do funding agencies award grants?

In hopes that research or projects will work for the greater good of society (Reif-Lehrer, 2005).

4. What do successful grant-getters need?

A mission, work or research that also supports the grantor’s goal, work/research that will meet the grantor’s need as well as your own, plan for how the need will be meet. In the declarations of Liane Reif-Lehrer (2005), successful grant-getters need:

• Integrity
• Research skills
• Ingenuity and flexibility
• Salesmanship skills
• Communication skills
• Good human relations skills
• Administrative skills
• Persistence, dedication, patience, and the ability to work hard
• Political awareness and action

Greer, M (2001). The project manager's partner. Amherst, Massachusetts: HRD Press.

Reif-Lehrer, L (2005). Grant application writer's handbook. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett.