Project Management: The Basics

The role “project manager” or PM, is exactly what it sounds like: a person responsible for the day-to-day management of a given project. Think of this position as the chef d’orchestre, football coach, or a CEO of a temporary team who works to create, manage, and track a project from start to finish. Almost every industry — from tech to retail to publishing — requires people with this skillset. As a project manager, you could be employed by a startup or a big corporation. You could work full-time, freelance, or even be a consultant.

Project managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the completion of a project, while ensuring that it delivers the expected results on time, on budget, and within scope. The exact duties of a project manager will depend on their industry, organization, and the types of projects that the manager is tasked with overseeing.