This individual seldom participates directly in the activities that produce the result, but rather strives to maintain the progress, mutual interaction and tasks of various parties in such a way that reduces the risk of overall failure, maximizes benefits, and minimizes costs.
Understanding and applying the tools and techniques which are generally recognized[citation needed] as good practices are not sufficient alone for effective project management.
[citation needed] Successful project managers focus on this as their main concern and attempt to reduce risk significantly,[citation needed] often by adhering to a policy of open communication, ensuring that project participants can voice their opinions and concerns.
And will often work closely with the construction project manager in the office of the general contractor (GC), and at the same time, coordinate the work of the design team and numerous consultants who contribute to a construction project, and manage communication with the client.
The issues of budget, scheduling, and quality control are the responsibility of the project manager in an architect's office.
Until recently, the American construction industry lacked any level of standardization, with individual States determining the eligibility requirements within their jurisdiction.
However, several trade associations based in the United States have made strides in creating a commonly accepted set of qualifications and tests to determine a project manager's competency.
The profession has recently grown to accommodate several dozen construction management Bachelor of Science programs.
The United States Navy construction battalions, nicknamed the SeaBees, puts their command through strenuous training and certifications at every level.
To become a chief petty officer in the SeaBees is equivalent to a BS in construction management with the added benefit of several years of experience to their credit.
An infrastructure IT PM is concerned with the nuts and bolts of the IT department, including computers, servers, storage, networking, and such aspects of them as backup, business continuity, upgrades, replacement, and growth.
Often, a secondary data center will be constructed in a remote location to help protect the business from outages caused by natural disasters or weather.
The most difficult part of the infrastructure PM's job maybe this translation of business needs / wants into technical specifications.