How does PM add value to a project and Organization ?
PM helps deliver project on time, in full and to budget.
Ensures that project has:

• A solid business case which is sponsored by the key decision makers
• Good initial planning and assessment of risks giving a greater chance of forecasting problem areas
• Clear objectives and a defined scope
• Tight control of budgets
• Management of communications and supply chain relationships

Provides:

• Crucial resources where and when required
• Performance measurement through key performance indicators
• Constant monitoring with workload and time frame adjustment to keep the project on track
• Constant feedback
• Constant review of project progress against the business case to avoid scope creep

And:

• Manage problems and ensure they are being resolved
• Manage dependencies between different tasks
• Co-ordinate the work of contractors and staff involved
• Assign tasks and keep everyone focused on the end goal
• Facilitate resolution of issues and development of a common understanding
• Ensure all stakeholders are kept informed of any changes
• Ensure Health and Safety is adhered to at all times
• Close out the project and prepare for any post project review

PMs usually operate in a temporary organizational form (think Matrix organization), which means they either have no authority or limited authority or an ambiguous authority, even if they are an in-house employee. Either way, “authority” is an issue.
Projects typically do not operate under ideal circumstances. So, PMs have to motivate people, under time pressure, with uncertain conditions towards an uncertain goal. PMs motivate their project team to keep on trucking towards the next corner. With ever changing conditions, resources need to be reorganized and re-prioritized. Decisions are to be made continuously.


Career highlights or achievements in any of these areas?

Automated systems	Increased productivity
Conceived new products/ideas	Increased inventory turns
Designed new equipment/procedures	Increased return on investment
Developed new products	Managed operations
Developed plans	Raised efficiencies or safety
Devised methods	Reduced costs
Eliminated unnecessary procedures	Reduced number of rejects
Enhanced profitability	Reduced energy requirements
Improved morale or team work	Reduced risk
Improved corporate image/reputation	Reduced accounts receivable overdue
Improved quality of production, or service	Reduced staff turnover
Improved or developed training	Reduced capital investment costs
Increased sales or market share	Reduced operational downtime
Increased earnings	Saved time

The S.T.A.R. formula

S.T.A.R. is an acronym which stands for:

Situation - Task - Action - Result

The way the formula works is that it helps you organise your information as follows:

Situation

Describe the situation, or provide some background on your achievement. Why did you do it? Why was it important? What was the problem or opportunity that you were responding to?
For example:

• Due to a change in client demand
• In response to a customer complaint
• As a result of falling market share
• An an environment of significant cost cutting
• Working to extremely tight project deadlines and budget constraints

Task

In responding to, or as a result of the above situation, what task, or tasks were you required to do, or decide to carry out?
The task/tasks you carried out would most likely involve you in carrying out certain job functions.
For example - you planned, organised, consulted, communicated, analysed, prepared a report, budget etc
Building on some of the situation described above your statement might begin to look like:

• Due to a change in client demand I analysed alternative ways of speeding up production.
• As a result of falling market share I instigated a strategy planning workshop with the sales team.
• An an environment of significant cost cutting I re-organised the workload of the team in order to achieve greater operational efficiencies.
• Working to extremely tight project deadlines and budget constraints I developed an alternative approach to completing the project.

Action

In carrying out the task/tasks above, what were some of the specific actions that you took?
In describing your action/s you elaborate on processes, methods, procedures etc that you used or adopted in order to complete the task/s.
For example:
In response to a customer complaint I investigated the company's procedure for returning products. This involved documenting each step in the returns process, and identifying both the people and company systems involved in each step. I also conducted in-depth interviews with the staff involved at each stage of the process to obtain their ideas about improvements to process and systems.
Describing your actions in detail gives your reader invaluable insight into how you operate - your attitude, and how you apply your skills, knowledge in a particular situation.

Result

This is obviously the result or outcome from the task/s you completed, and the actions you took to complete those tasks.
When writing about results it informs the reader about:

• Who benefits? How did they benefit?
• The business impact of what you've done.
• Key deliverables, measurables, KPIs, or standards that you have achieved.
• Specific contributions that you have made.

Quantify your results wherever possible.

This is one of the best ways to present results that have credibility.
How do you do this? Describe your results in terms of actual quantities, percentages, or other forms of measurement:

• Time, or time taken
• Budget
• Quality
• Quality
• Safety
• Efficiency
• Growth, or reduction
• Actual quantities involved
• Levels of satisfaction
• Increased standards, or standards maintained
• Meeting, or exceeding targets

Extensive experience in project, staff, operations, and process management. Utilizes senior and executive level management experience gained as an employee followed by over a decade of experience to help clients successfully meet the challenges of today's fast-paced and demanding IT environment. Experienced in all aspects of the IT & management discipline including strategic planning and finances, program and project management, requirements engineering, software development, infrastructure & operations, etc. Particularly strong in building teams and in bridging the communication gaps between IT & business and technologists & management. Project Management Professional (PMP) actively involved with several professional organizations. A frequent lecturer on management and methodology disciplines.

Project Management Institute, Edison City, NJ
• Instructor: PMP Certification Examination Preparation course.

Examples of Common Achievements:

• Successfully managed a diverse range of projects from conception through implementation.
• Effectively prioritized and organized work loads in a constantly changing environment to meet daily and weekly schedules.
• Commended by management on numerous occasions for the quality and consistency of my performance.
• Created and presented an excellent image of the company and its services to customers, and coordinated and communicated well with clientele and management at all levels.
• Commended by supervisor/management for the quality and consistency of my performance.
• Made significant contributions to __________ in the production of ___________.
• Was awarded Certificate of Excellence for my performance.
• As an Apartment Manager: Established new inventory control, warehouse and order pulling systems. Also researched and found the most cost effective suppliers which resulted in a net savings of over 40% annually.
• Reorganized department for more productive operation, including providing faster service with less returns.
• If your work involved quotas and you surpassed your quotas, you could say something like: Was commended for exceeding the daily quota of # per day by #
• Organized and implemented and efficient work flow system that resulted in significant cost savings.

Examples of Common Strengths:

• Career reflecting hard work, attention to detail and the ability to meet exact specifications as well as cost, quality and time objectives.
• Positive and enthusiastic, able to communicate effectively with management at all levels and direct workers in a manner insuring maximum efficiency.
• High motivational level, excellence of leadership technique, and professional attention to detail supplemented by the ability to influence and stimulate others.
• Ability to create and present an excellent image of the company and its service to customers, and to coordinate and communicate well with clientele and management at all levels.
• Expert organizer and energetic, aggressive communicator with a proven ability to accomplish the most detailed, sensitive activity while remaining with the prescribed policy.
• Creative and energetic, capable of sustained effort necessary to see a project through from conception to completion.
• Hard working, capable of 100% effort reinforced with solid and successful experience in all-around maintenance and repair.
• Career reflecting total involvement, high motivation, persuasive interaction and communication with people, eagerness to work, and proven leadership qualities.
• Multiplicity of experience and skills including carpentry, wood work, metals, plumbing, mechanics, general maintenance and repair.
• Disciplined and well organized in work habit, with ability to function smoothly in pressure situations.