Project Management Step by Step: How to Plan and Manage a Highly Successful Project

Step 2.2 Check your role – are you responsible for achieving the ‘why’ or making sure the ‘what’ happens?

To be successful in completing your project, you need to know what you are responsible for. Consider the simple example I started this chapter with – you are decorating the front room. Remember the reason for this was to get the asking price for the house you are selling. You must start by understanding whether you:

• Are only responsible for decorating the front room? (what) OR

• Are also responsible for ensuring the house achieves its asking price? (why)

Normally, as a project manager, you will be only formally responsible for achieving what you have specified, not why you are doing it. You should understand the ‘why’ but it is not your job ...