From the cloud, to the Internet of Things, to big data, companies are embracing digital transformation to help them quickly react to marketplace shifts, consumer demands and new opportunities. The roadmap for digital transformation is different for all companies and often calls for customized software, which can be a significant investment of time, money, attention and resources.

Software development can sometimes be seen as a slow and expensive process, especially at the enterprise level. Managing these factors are fundamental priorities and few people are better equipped to keep things under control than project managers.

Many organizations that are on a path towards digital transformation don’t fully recognize the value PM’s add to software development teams. According to a 2016 report from the Project Management Institute titled “The High Cost of Low Performance”, less than two in five companies surveyed place a high priority on creating cultures that recognize the importance of project management as a driver of better project performance.

That’s not the case at Kenzan, where our project managers play a central role on each development team and are vital for success. We’re not the the only ones that have seen the positive results of project managers. Organizations that invest in project management waste 13 times less money because strategic initiatives are completed more successfully.

But for those who might disagree, we’re here to dispel some myths about Project Managers:

Myth: Project managers are clueless.

Busted: Technical comprehension is as critical to the success of a project as leadership and strategic business management. While a PM doesn’t write code, they spend their days working with those that do. In order for a PM to adapt quickly to changing conditions, assign and re-prioritize tasks, communicate effectively and spot risks, they need an understanding of  relevant tools and technologies that the team uses.    

Myth: Project Managers just schedule meetings and manage calendars.

Busted: Project managers guide the structure, scope, quality and budget of a project while also representing the interests of the product owner. The real value of a project manager is as a leader, liaison and mentor. With a big picture point of view, the project manager balances and guides software development teams while defining requirements and goals to ensure the teams meet expectations — on time and on budget.

Myth: Project managers are just paper pushers.

Busted: Project managers define policies and procedures that enable success. Without the structure of process, a project can easily fall apart. A project manager knows the operational requirements (things like time sheets, budgets and resource allocation) and can navigate communication channels with clients so technical team members can focus on what they do best – developing software.

Myth: A Project manager’s top priority is execution.

Busted: Project managers support the team from start to finish. While the software delivery lifecycle (SDLC) is the guiding framework for development, it doesn’t stand alone in supporting and achieving business objectives. Project management methodologies work in tandem with the SDLC for the initiating, planning, monitoring and delivery of projects, which provides consistency and stability of process through every phase of the SDLC.

Now that we’ve dispelled some of these major misconceptions about project managers, it’s (hopefully) clear how important they really are. Think about all the projects you or your organization have worked on that went over budget, missed a deadline or derailed entirely. It may be too late to go back and right those wrongs, but it’s not too late to consider how future projects — and your company as whole —  will benefit from the guidance of project managers.

For companies that are looking to get or stay competitive, strong project management practices can play a crucial role in driving the business forward through digital transformation. Contact info@kenzan.com to learn more about our project management and other services.

As a certified Scrum Master in Agile methodologies, Jennifer Aczualdez leads Kenzan’s project management and business analysis team . She manages the scope, budget and timelines of projects and acts as a central point of contact for both internal and client teams. She is involved in the full software delivery cycle, from initiation and planning to monitoring, delivering and closing.