Project managers (PMs) are in charge of organizing, planning, and guiding the execution of particular projects for an organization while making sure that these projects are completed on time, within budget, and within the intended scope. Project managers have the power to influence an organization's trajectory by managing complicated projects from start to finish, which can help save costs, enhance business efficiencies, handle any unwanted issues, and boost revenue.

A project manager's specific responsibilities will vary depending on the sort of projects they are in charge of managing as well as their industry, company, and place of employment. But generally speaking, project managers are responsible for five phases (or processes) that make up what is known as the "project life cycle":

• Initiating
• Planning
• Implementing 
• Closing 
• Monitoring

Though it could be tempting, these aren't "steps" in the traditional sense. Project managers instead frequently go back to these procedures throughout the course of a project. Each stage of the project life cycle is examined in greater detail below, along with the many duties that a project manager could be expected to perform during each.

The project management process is typically divided into discrete 5 phases that carry the project from start to finish. These phases consist of:

• Initiating
• Planning
• Executing
• Monitoring and Controlling
• Closing

The project life cycle and these phases frequently overlap. They can assist you in choosing the best procedure flow and order to complete your assignment. You can further divide up the tasks into various project phases using our project management checklist.

There are various project management strategies, but they all ultimately lead to the same result: a completed project. Most frequently utilized are seven main categories.

1. Waterfall 

Many development teams continue to employ waterfall project management, which is unquestionably one of the oldest and most traditional project management techniques.

2. Agile

The outdated waterfall approach can be replaced with agile since it is quicker and more flexible.

3. Scrum

It can turn on a dime, travels quickly, and has a narrow area of effect.

4. Kanban

Kanban is an additional agile project management subtype. Kanban is all about organization, as opposed to Scrum, which is concentrated on time-based components.

5. Lean

Lean management is comparable to Kanban, but it places an even greater emphasis on eliminating waste.

6. Six Sigma

The Six Sigma approach focuses on raising the caliber of a project's output.

7. PRINCE2

The PRINCE2 technique, which emphasizes efficiency and minimizing risks and errors, is frequently utilized by the government's private sectors.

A project manager might pursue a variety of career options. While some may study project management concepts in school and apply directly to project management jobs after graduating, others "accidentally" become project managers after progressively taking on greater responsibility in their current employment or switching from seemingly unrelated disciplines. Here are six actions you should think about doing to become a project manager, regardless of the route you ultimately choose.

1. Recognize the abilities you already possess in project management.
2. Amplify your project management expertise.
3. Improve your project management abilities.
4. Make your project manager's resume stronger.
5. Look for employment at the beginning level.
6. Think about earning a project management certification.

The 5 distinct phases of a project are typically initiation, planning, execution, and closure.

The project manager is accountable for the following duties during the project lifecycle:

• Defining the project's scope
• Maintaining a timetable
• Estimating project costs and staying within a budget
• Controlling project resources (including teams and workers)
• Keeping track of the project's development
• Interacting with the parties involved
• Evaluating hazards
• Troubleshooting
• Outstanding quality control

There are no two workdays (or two projects) that are exactly alike due to the vast range of tasks. You might be doing interviews to find new employees, coordinating team meetings, reallocating funds to pay an unforeseen bill, or informing stakeholders on the project's status on any given day.

Project management is very important because of the below reasons:

1. Strategic Alignment

Project management is crucial since it makes sure that what is given is accurate and will actually benefit the business opportunity.

2. Leadership

Project management is crucial because it gives initiatives leadership and direction. A team without project management could be like a ship without a rudder—moving but with no purpose or direction. Team members can perform at their highest level thanks to strong leadership.

3. Clearly Defined Goals

Project management is crucial because it guarantees that a solid plan is in place for carrying out strategic objectives.

4. Practical Project Planning

Project management is crucial because it guarantees that realistic expectations be created regarding what can be delivered, by when, and for how much.

5. Quality Assurance

Project management is crucial since it guarantees that the quality of everything supplied continually meets expectations.