Accountability in Project Management

As in any branch or division of a business unit one needs to have a clear notion on the accountability and responsibility within the project management domain too. The project managers must be well aware of their responsibilities and the accountability towards the project whether it is a success or a failure. However, in the current times most often this accountability is being replaced by a phenomenon which is making the project managers play safe by avoiding risk. This is not a healthy thought given that most of mankind’s success have come by taking risks, albeit careful risks!

Using the right tools too is important in project management, but at the same time one can easily be encompassed in the transparency and communication while not paying much attention to accountability, deadlines, etc. The project management tools should be viewed as data sources and used accordingly to make informed decisions tied to accountability and responsibility. The client might want to know the project status or how the project money has been spent or any other information pertaining to the project. It is important that these details should be captured and shared with the client as and when required so as to build the relationship on trust and efficiency. In cases like this the project management tools are helpful in giving us the actual figures. Giving the reasons why the figures are the way they are is the responsibility of the project manager who is accountable for the project.

It should also be remembered that the project manager alone per se cannot be held accountable about the project, though he has a fair share of responsibility. This is because the project manager is very much dependent on the project team. Hence it is important to choose the right team carefully and groom them on the job and project. At the same time it is highly important that the project manager is accountable to the teams’ efforts and the team management.

This is one of the reasons why companies across the globe are spending thousands of dollars in training their employees on the various technological and soft skills on a regular basis. Teamwork, trust and motivation are the three forces which can bring together a team to perform better and thus produce better results too. Taking care of these aspects and grooming the right team would help any organization in having valuable people assets who will able to act as the company’s ambassadors immaterial to the role that they are in.

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