Program Manager: A Tech or Non-Tech Skill?
The role of a program manager often straddles the line between tech and non-tech domains, making it a unique and somewhat ambiguous position. When newbies are contemplating which tech path to choose, some aren’t sure if being a program manager requires technological knowledge or not.
Firstly, a program manager is a strategic project-management professional whose job is to help oversee and coordinate the various projects, products, and other strategic initiatives across an organization. Definition Source: www.productplan.com
As a program manager, one must have superb communication skills (ability to interact with stakeholders), the ability to make decisions, be capable of allocating and managing resources efficiently, and have the ability to delegate tasks. A program manager must ensure that specialists have what they need and that their work aligns with the program’s goals. This requires oversight and coordination more than technical ability.
Technological Areas Applicable to Program Management
In recent times, many skills now have their technological areas. That of program management includes:
- Application of communication and management tech tools like: Jira, Trello, Microsoft Project
- Application of analytical tools: Excel, SQL... to handle data, using analytics tools, and understanding metrics to track project progress and make data-driven decisions
Essential Non-Tech Skills
- Leadership and coordination
- Resource management
- Communication
- Delegation
- Time management
As you've been able to read till this moment, you would realize that project management has gone beyond the old style of collating written projects, sending emails through the post office, and walking far distances to examine and approve a project. All of these and more could be achieved while sitting with your technological devices. As a program manager who wants to deliver up-to-date tasks, one should embrace tech skills applicable in this line.