More and more international companies are establishing Business Service Centers (BSC) in Hungary, leading to a growing demand for project managers in this sector. An innovative company today is constantly expanding, and it is now a basic requirement that individuals with the right competencies be placed in the right positions. However, finding all the necessary resources on time amidst dynamic environmental changes is not always possible. This is where engaging external project managers becomes worthwhile.
Adrian Pop works as Invoice Automation Lead and Global Supplier Enablement Lead, and has also held positions such as Service and Process Management and Operations & Engagement Manager. In the latest podcast episode of PMO Klub, Adrian shared insights about the future of project management and detailed his experiences working with external project managers. If you’re curious about his report, listen to the episode in English or continue reading our article on the topic.
Let’s Get to the Point
Let’s start with when and why it’s necessary to involve external resources for the successful completion of a project. Companies employing external project managers already hire people with a wide range of competencies. There may be a unique project within a company that requires specific skills even before the project starts, making it clear that external resources are necessary in such cases.
However, it’s also common to face obstacles during the process, where an external perspective can be beneficial in pushing the team forward. In such cases, an external project manager who can provide fresh insights can be valuable.
Such individuals can be engaged for short-term or long-term periods, ranging from a few months to even half a year.
Qualities of a Good Project Manager
Essentially, an ideal project manager should be capable of leading various types of projects without any issues, just as in the BSC sector. However, what sets a BSC project manager apart is the ability to communicate the same issue in two or three different ways, as they must be aware of cultural differences among the audience.
They must also identify the time frames that allow current messages to reach the right individuals. Therefore, the methodology used is the same as any project manager in this field. The difference lies in soft skills. If these skills are present, a project manager can be successful in the BSC sector as well.
The most important competencies include good communication, handling and involving stakeholders, and selecting and using the ideal methodology.
When selecting an external project manager, perhaps the most important factor is their ability to identify with the company’s values, and to manage the participants they will interact with during the project. Technical and methodological abilities are important, but communication skills are paramount.
At this point, it’s worth mentioning that today, human interaction is no longer necessary during task completion. Following the COVID period, it is entirely natural for colleagues to be separated by hundreds or thousands of kilometers. Numerous examples and much experience show that work can still be seamless. This can also be an important consideration when selecting an external person.
Making Collaboration Smooth
To ensure effective collaboration with an external project manager, only a few simple things are needed. First, it’s important to treat them like an internal colleague, to be aware of shared goals and directions. It’s important that everyone within the team is treated equally.
Furthermore, it will be decisive how comprehensive the company’s presentation is. It is very important that, over at least one and a half to two days, everything is thoroughly explained to the external party. The corporate culture, work methods, and all the parties involved, along with their job roles.
We also need to consider having similar personalities within the team, who we know will get along well with each other. This is also true for an external project manager. They also need at least one person from within the company they can rely on and ask questions of. In addition, the leader is just as important a person, and it is essential that they focus on integration. The project will only be successful if the external person has all the necessary tools and support.
The Future Project Manager
Today’s project managers are much more qualified and flexible than they were ten years ago. A perfect example of this is the dominance of agile methodology. As the project management sector began to spread, it quickly became clear that those who did not keep pace with this “wave” would be buried under it. Therefore, it was necessary to begin learning, implementing, and embracing agile methodologies. Since then, numerous similar methodologies have been implemented in the project management field. In the future, it will be particularly important for employees in this sector to be flexible and adaptable to rapidly changing trends.
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