Amitabh Sharma
Features Coordinator

To implement a project is both a challenging and a demanding task; taking a stock of the situation at hand, organising the resources and ensuring that the project is implemented according to plans.

The project manager maps the progress and productive mutual interaction of various components in a way that overall risk of failure is reduced.

“All project managers, irrespective of the application area have a specific function,” explained Sherrone Lobban, chief executive officer and lead consultant, Development Partners and Management International Limited (DPM International).

“The primary responsibility is to ensure that they control the project’s scope and budget; apply effective project human resources and communications management techniques; identify and manage project risks; and ensure that they monitor and evaluate the relevant project process.”

Tools and techniques
Project managers can be employed in various fields, from Information Technology to development.

“While project management may be adapted to any field,” said Lobban, who has worked with the United Nations in designing development projects. “In international development there are preferred tools and techniques.”

There is a logical framework method, results chain logics and social mapping, which are used to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate development projects. These tools are not often used in other application areas such as information technology.

“Development management is important to almost every facet of life,” said Lobban, “ as it takes place at the community level, within government and international organisations such as the United Nations.”

Lobban says that in development management there is a deliberate aim to implement programmes and projects that lead to issues such as improvement in the lives of citizens in terms of governance, higher literacy levels, reduced infant mortality and a reduction in poverty.

“Over the past decade or so there is greater emphasis on managing for development results,” she said.

Qualifications
The stage of training for persons interested in managing development projects is to gain qualifications in development management.

“To work on a team a first degree is acceptable,” said Lobban. “ But it is desirable to have a postgraduate degree in an area of development studies.”

Incumbents will also need training in project management, specifically in the application area of international development because there are various project tools and techniques that are designed to be used especially when managing a development project.

“Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) would be an added bonus,” said Lobban. “PMP certification is not compulsory and neither is it restricted to development management.”

Lobban, whose company DPM International offers project management, training and research, says that employers often give preference to project managers who have knowledge or training in development over individual who may be a PMP but with no knowledge of development management.

Gaining experience is also critical, said Lobban.

“International development requires not only educational qualification but also experience,” she said. “My advice to those in secondary or tertiary levels is to get involved in volunteering with organisations such as NGOs, the United Nations or the government, where they can build awareness of important issues within this field.

“A development practitioner can earn from US $ 72,000 to US 100,000 per annum, depending on the qualifications and experience,” Lobban disclosed.

One has the opportunity to work as a consultant for the Government, advising on development issues or as a consultant working with an overseas government working on projects in Jamaica. There are employment opportunities in NGOs or other development organisations.

Challenges and traits
Lobban explained that one of the biggest challenge is to ensure that emotions do not cloud judgments or decisions.

“It is important that a balance is established between the levels of sympathy, empathy and impartiality,” she said. “At no time can one afford to get emotionally immersed in situations one is seeking to address.”

One should be sensitive towards different cultures; the challenge here is to work with individuals from varying geographic, cultural and social background, who may not be tolerant of other socio-cultural groups. In such cases like one should exercise diplomacy, tact and tolerance.

“The field is not for those who seek a cushy job,” she says, ”if you have a passion for serving others then this is the perfect career for you.”

Project management is dynamic and involves many areas of specialisation, public sector management, governance, NGO management, education, economics, sociology, community development and strategic planning.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com