How to Hire the Right Technical PM for Your IT Project

Nontechnical project managers can doom an IT project. As we discussed in a previous post, nontechnical PMs often struggle to set appropriate project timelines, determine what resources are needed and prevent “scope creep” from muddling the effort. When it comes time to staff the project, they lack the know-how to vet candidates appropriately.

So why do organizations put nontechnical PMs in charge of IT projects? The reasons vary, of course, but in many cases they just aren’t aware of the downsides. Organizations believe that anyone with project management experience is qualified to spearhead the initiative.

Often, however, organizations try to use a nontechnical project manager because finding a truly technical PM is difficult due to the chronic shortage of IT talent. And if the organization isn’t technical to begin with, the people doing the hiring aren’t going to have the background needed to determine if a candidate has the needed expertise.

Interested In Learning More?

Communication Skills are Critical

Technical project managers have specific expertise in managing IT projects. They know what resources are needed to deploy a new application or service. They know how to talk to developers, engineers, security analysts and other pros involved in the project. They also know how to bridge the communication gap between these individuals and teams.

Poor communication is one of the top challenges in project management. When hiring a technical PM, it’s important to ask candidates how they communicate with various stakeholders, particularly if there are problems.

The project manager needs to be able to state what’s going well and what’s not, and ask the appropriate questions to eliminate any roadblocks. The PM shouldn’t be an administrator but a leader who steers all resources and stakeholders to the desired objective.

Leadership and Adaptability

To prevent scope creep, the project manager should have a thorough understanding of the project parameters and the wherewithal to remind stakeholders of those parameters. “Gold plating can also be a problem, particularly with software developers. If gold plating is suspected, the PM should have the ability to verify that deliverables align with the baseline of the project scope.

A related skill is the ability to adapt when things go wrong. Any time human beings are involved, mistakes will happen and plans will get derailed. The technical project manager must be able to overcome obstacles and create the best outcome possible under the circumstances. Deep technical skills will help the PM choose the right course to keep the project on time and within budget.

Getting Into the Specifics

Most importantly, the project manager should have technical experience that’s appropriate to the initiative. You can’t take a technical PM who has a background in Oracle and expect that person to oversee the deployment of SQL Server. That would be like hiring a mechanic who’s used to working on airplanes and turning them loose with your Ford. Yes, that person is a mechanic. Yes, that person might be able to get the job done. But if you hire a Ford mechanic who knows your vehicle, you’ll get a better outcome.

At DeSeMa, we are deeply technical by nature and have the project management skillset. If you ask us to help find you a technical project manager, we will ensure that the candidate has the specific technical knowledge needed to excel in the role as well as project management skills.

Putting a nontechnical PM in charge of an IT project is unfair to that person and a recipe for failure. Contact DeSeMa for help defining the technical skills your PM needs and finding the ideal candidate for your project.