An Interview with Pat Lucey on the Importance of Project Management
and the future after shutdown of Motorola Ireland.

Interview By Ed Naughton

 

PMWT - Pat what is your view on what makes a good Project Manager?

Lucey - I think that good communication skills are absolutely essential.  Many projects now require multi-site teams, separated by thousands of miles - and that separation can easily magnify any differences or misunderstands within the team.  I see a strong Project Manager as being someone who can drive good communication throughout the team, someone who drives accountability within the team, and who can build a team that pulls together when the going gets tough. 

PMWT - What's your view on using Certified Project Managers?

Lucey -I see certification as a "necessary but not sufficient" condition to be a good Project Manager.  You can have a person who is great at passing certification exams, but struggles with the hands-on project work - the interpersonal skills, the multitasking, the flexibility that's required to be a great Project Manager.  However, Professional Certification brings some huge advantages - it ensures familiarity with industry best practice and the extensive Body of Knowledge that's out there.  For any large scale or complex projects, I will only consider using proven and certified project managers.  What I like about the IPMA 4-level certification model is that it gives you immediate insight into a Project Managers level of experience and capability - I think it gets a good balance between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and it provides a progression path for project management professionals.

 

Read complete interview in English