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Characteristics of a Good Project Manager

What qualities are most important for a project leader to be effective? Over the past few
years, the people at ESI International, world leaders in Project Management Training,
have looked in to what makes an effective project leader. With the unique opportunity to
ask some of the most talented project leaders in the world on their Project Leadership
courses ESI have managed to collect a running tally on their responses.
Do you work well with others? Are you a leader? If you have these qualities, you might
make a good manager. However, you need just more than these two qualities to be a
good manager. There are a number of factors that play into whether or not you would
make a good manager.
The good news is that you dont have to rely solely on natural, inborn traits. It is possible
to develop the qualities good managers possess. You can complete a management
program to learn some of the necessary characteristics, and you can also develop many
desirable qualities on your own. As you prepare for a job in management, keep in mind
these 25 qualities and characteristics of a good manager:

Inspire a Shared Team Vision
While it may be common sense to most for a project to work,
everybody needs to have the same vision for where exactly the project is going. Great
project managers help all team members feel like they have an equal stake in a project,
and empower everyone to share and experience the groups vision. Warren Bennis, the
pioneer of Leadership studies, said about this type of visionary leader: They offer
people opportunities to create their own vision, to explore what the vision will mean to
their jobs and lives, and to envision their future as part of the vision for the
organization. While this might be heavy for your average corporate project, the
foundation is solid: when team members share a similar vision, they feel vested to
deliver their best.

Great Communication Skills
As a project manager, communicating with different types of
stakeholders can be tricky at times. When it comes to communicating with clients
versus team members versus corporate leadership, it can become downright
difficult. Project managers need to clearly communicate goals, performance, and
expectations; and they need to manage feedback coming at them from all
directions. Being accessible, open, and direct is critical for being a good communicator.
Further, having the ability to persuade team members to do certain tasks a bit
differently, or work overtime when necessary, is equally as important. Overall, a project
managers overall effectiveness is often realized by the ability to communicate
effectively.

Integrity
A project managers actions set the modus operandi for the
team. Good leadership requires commitment and adherence to ethical practices. Yes,
projects must be profitable; and yes, there are many ways to ensure project managers
take their corporate interests into account while serving the client. However, great
project managers abide by ethical standards and rewarding those team members who
follow suit is part of the responsibility of the job. Project management should never be
motivated by self-interest; rather it is the interest of the projects success that matters
most.

Enthusiastic
Negative leaders can be a real pitfall to the success of a project and
the overall effectiveness of a team. Great project managers have a bounce in their step
and a can-do attitude that sets the pace for their entire team. Having good energy
(without being annoying) is critical to setting a positive example and demeanor for the
team. Project managers who are positively committed to goals even when things go
wrong will help inspire others to not become negative when the project hits a delay or
snag.

Empathy
Empathy and sympathy are two different things. Sympathy is usually
projected, while empathy means truly understanding how the other person feels,
especially when it comes to things which involves a life outside of work. Sometimes
empathy needs to be shown towards team members who are struggling to cope
because of whatever outside influences might be affecting their work. As such, a strong
project manager will empathize with the team members issues without showing
remorse (where appropriate). Doing so ensures team members can remain productive
on the project, without exacerbating any personal issues they may be going through.

Competency in the Subject Matter of the Project
Team members need to feel like their project manager has some
degree of expertise in the projects subject matter. As such, project leaders should have
the ability to lead their team with technical expertise if the project so requires it. This
does not necessarily mean a project manager on a software development project needs
the ability to open Visual Studio and begin coding in C-Sharp; however it does mean
that the project manager understands the implications of different technical challenges
and opportunities. Leaders who are seen as competent by their peers have the ability
to inspire, enable and encourage.

Great at Delegating Tasks
Trust is a huge part of effective project management; and how much
project managers trust their team is often shown through how much responsibility they
are willing to delegate. Great project managers understand the degree of oversight
each team member requires for a given set of tasks. Assigning the right tasks to the
right people and trusting them to leverage the best of their abilities is a key
characteristic of a great project manager. Assigning the right amount of tasks so that
team members are not overwhelmed is equally important.

Stay Cool under Pressure
In a perfect world, every project would complete on time, on budget,
and on scope. Sadly, we dont live in a perfect world. When the going gets tough, good
project managers get going on keeping things calm. Warrant Bennis (mentioned earlier)
stated: Out of the uncertainty and chaos of change, leaders rise up and articulate a
new image of the future that pulls the project together. In short, the more the project
managers visibly stress out, the more the team and client will stress out as well. Great
project managers stay cool under pressure.

Team Building skills
For a team to move forward from a group of strangers to a well-
oiled unit, a project manager must understand process dynamics. He or she must go
through each phase of team development even when conflict crops up and get the
team to put differences aside and focus on the common goal. Lets face it: most of the
people on your team did not choose to work together, and would probably not
voluntarily spend time with each other outside of work. Great project managers foster a
sense of unity on the team, across personal dynamics.

Problem Solving skills
Great project managers solve problems by sharing the
responsibility with the experts on their team. Similar to item #6 above regarding
competence, even a great project manager will not have the solution to every issue that
arises; its just not possible. However, great project managers will understand how to
set a path towards the solution. This means leveraging the knowledge of those team
members and stakeholders who have the expert knowledge to assist; and setting a plan
to solve tough problems by harnessing that team experience. Being a great project
manager is not easy it takes a very special person to navigate the complex tapestry
that goes with managing a project, and making a success of it. Most of the above-
mentioned characteristics tie in with each other; and if good project manager displays
one or two of these attributes then chances are they can work towards being great.












Types of engineering projects in
computer engineering industry
1. Online Vehicle Showroom
The main purpose of Online Vehicle Showroom is to develop a user friendly
application for vehicle showroom administrator as well as customers. This application
allows storing vehicle information, stock available at different locations, comparison of
products, payment modes etc. This will include the login form for both administrator and
customers with their own scope of accessibility. This allows the administrator a global
scope and the customer with limited scope. And thus help in maintaining the security of
the records.
Project Scope:
Currently this project can be used for HERO HONDA showroom. And in future this
project can be useful for user who wants details about the vehicle online. In future this
can be used by any other vehicle showroom.

2. Web based Insurance Service Management System
Web based Insurance Service Management System is usefull for
insurance companies. A contract in which a person who signed to the contract and paid
some amount to the company will get some assured money when event insured is
happened is called Insurance. But most of people will be get attracted towards
insurance and buys insurance because people who purchased insurance will be paid an
premium amount on the maturity of insurance by the insurance company. Also he will
get insurance amount if he died unfortunately in the road accident or by natural
disasters. Some insurance companies will cover persons medical expenses when he
seriously injured in a road accident. It provides economical support to the family of
insured person when he died in the unfortunate event. It eliminates the risk of the
persons life which can change by unfortunate road accident or natural disasters also
provide medical security to the insured person.

3. Mobile Security Application
Mobile Security Application application is for society. Now a
days Safety is very much concerning especially for women. There are several cases
occurring on a daily basis such as Crimes against people, murder case, aggravated
assault, robbery case, womens violence or torture, etc. and we are all aware of
importance of womens safety, but we must realize that they should be properly
protected. Womens are not as physically strong as men, in an emergency situation a
helping hand would be a relief for them. The main objectives of Mobile Security
Application project is to analyse and build a social security application which helps the
user to ensure their safety using their mobile devices.


4. Intelligent Car Transportation System
A Transport system which is developed to determine, estimate
and absolves collision causes between two or more vehicles is called Intelligent Car TS
(Intelligent Car Transport System). A correlative and cooperative wireless networking
concept plays an important role in developing this proposed system.
The main aim of this mechanism is to prevent the collision between Vehicle-to-Vehicle
(V2V). By exchanging information between vehicles periodically, awareness about the
location of each and every vehicle we can give solution to the problem of collision
between the vehicles. Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver is used to know the
location of the vehicle which helps in maintaining the traffic in highly congested areas
and avoids collision between the vehicles which causes damage to vehicle and humans
inside vehicle. GPS system provides accurate location of vehicle by using dead-
reckoning sensors, which is attached with GPS. GPS mechanism and local clock time
enables two nearby vehicles to exchange information about their own movement in
terms of exact position and can prevent collision between their vehicles.
The vehicle will get to know whether they are near to collision course with another
vehicle or not by using these inputs. The characteristics of intelligent car transport
system are given as below: fault tolerance, scalability, co-operation, cost efficiency and
self-organized vehicular network. Communication Cluster is formed to facilitate these
characteristics. The proposed Intelligent Car TS concept over a torus topology can be
used to control the traffic of vehicles in the streets of Manhattan. The collision between
vehicles is avoided by this proposed system which satisfies all user needs and above
characteristics.
5. Air Force Security System Using Thumb Checker
Project title is Air Force Security System Using Thumb
Checker. Air Force Security System is developed to help the airport security in detecting
the valid passport holders by using their finger print. It will check finger print of the
passport holder with available records of finger prints. It will show an alert message to
airport security if finger print matching is not found. If match found, then this system will
check the passport holders behavior. It will play the emergency alarm if the behavior of
passport holder is not good. If he committed any crime or offense then system will reject
him










Overview & Status of Computer
Engineering in Pakistan
Computers!! - are slowly becoming a quintessential aspect which can be found
everywhere; i,e in car engines, watches, microwave ovens, telephones, video games, x-
ray machines, ATM's, touching every facet of our lives. Due to the rapid growth of
Information Technology. Computer Engineering involves designing and testing of
computer components. It is a branch of Engineering, which studies elements from both
electrical engineering and computer science angles, combining the principle and
techniques of these two for the making and development of computer and computer-
based systems. Professionals who work with computer hardware and software are
termed as Computer Engineers.
Computer engineers are a part of a team who apply their knowledge of mathematics
and science for the design and development of a computer. Those who deal with the
computer equipment as such, are termed as computer hardware engineers and those
who deal with the computer programs are called computer software engineers.
Computer software or software is a collection of computer programs, procedures and
documentation that performs the major tasks on a computer system. Software
engineers should have strong programming skills as they are concerned with the design
and development of many types of software, including computer games, word
processing and business applications, operating systems and network distribution and
compilers, which convert programs to machine language for execution on a computer.

The job prospects for computer engineers are increasing rapidly both in Pakistan
and abroad because of the booming in this industry. System study, analysis, design and
programming are the main areas which provide various probabilities to the computer
science and engineering graduates to shape themselves in their career. Computer
engineers develop computer programs for industries. Their work involves the design,
development and maintenance of software. They are engaged in analyzing problems for
solutions, formulating and testing, using advanced communications or multi-media
equipment or working in teams for product development.
A computer engineering graduate with a high percentage of mark and good
communication skill are easily absorbed in reputed companies. Along with the degree in
computer science, the candidate should be well trained in the latest software's. Software
and IT companies are the main employers of these graduates. They can also find job
opportunities in a variety of environments in university, research, private and public
industries, government departments, business organizations, commercial organizations
and the manufacturing sector etc.
Computer Engineers can work as a Software/ Hardware Engineer, which are the two
main sectors in the computer industry. Software is the set of programmed instructions
that enable a computer to perform specified functions and Hardware covers the physical
elements of a computer system, and is concerned with the design, development,
assembly, manufacture and maintenance. They can work as programmers, web
developers and E- commerce specialists with industries that build or use computer-

based systems, such as telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, etc. National and
multi-national computer manufacturing companies; computer hardware system design
and development companies, computer networking companies, software development
companies as well as hardware assembling and maintenance companies, data
processing departments of modern industries and in areas where computers and
computer-aided systems are used, such as aeronautics and space science, the
petroleum industry, chemical plants and power plants and management consultancy
organizations are some among the probable work places.
Diploma holders in computer engineering can start their own business enterprise with
very little investment. A person with good academic record i.e. a masters degree in
computer engineering with 5 years experience in teaching at graduate level or industrial
experience in a reputed firm can be employed as a lecturer. Qualified candidates can
find employment as a Software engineer in software companies in Pakistan
and abroad.
European manufacturing industries provide excellent career opportunities for computer
graduates in areas like cabling, satellite television, cellular telephones, microprocessor
system design and software engineering. In Australia and overseas they might be
employed in design, manufacturing, robotics and software development sectors.

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