1. Human Aspects Of Project
Management
Outline: Necessity of human
aspect; important aspects to be
taken care of; qualities essential
for a project manager

2. 2
Introduction
• A successful execution of project requires satisfactory
human relations system.
• Technical problems may be solved with additional input
of resources, but peoples problem is not readily resolved
in short term.
• To achieve satisfactory human relations in project
setting, project manager has to handle successfully
problems relating to:
1. Authority
2. Orientation
3. Motivation
4. Group Functioning

3. Management Of Authority
• A project manager usually receives very little formal
authority between functional lines of command.
• He has to co-ordinate the efforts of various functional
groups consisting of professionals and supervisory
personnel.
• In order to gain authority he should be able to:
1. Develop a rapport with the project personnel.
2. Resolve conflicts among various people working on the
project.
3. Have good professional reputation and stature, good
communication and persuasion skills.
4. Ability to act as buffer between technical, engineering,
financial and commercial people.
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4. Management Of Orientation
• The efficient achievement of project targets with in given
time and budget requires the project manager to
strengthen his managerial orientation.
• Usually a project manager is an engineer having
technical knowledge and outlook to problem handling,
but for this he needs to become engineer-manager.
• He needs to:
1. Perform tasks of planning, organizing, directing and
controlling resources of the firm.
2. Adopt a creative approach to unstructured problem
solving.
3. Attach greater importance to efficient utilization of
resources and resolution of human relation problems.
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5. Management Of Motivation
• The project manager while working within given socio-
technical system can influence the motivation level of the
project personnel.
• For this he should remember that
1. Every human being has different needs with differing
importance attached to them.
2. Behavioral research reveals that pressure to work is only
functional to an extent.
3. Motivation level is strong with challenging, achievable
goal setting.
4. Expectation of reward rather than fear of punishment has
a greater bearing.
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6. Management Of Motivation
• To motivate project personnel, project manager
must:
1.Be a perceptive observer of human beings.
2.Have the ability to appreciate the variable needs
of human beings.
3.Be sensitive to the reactions of people and act
supportively rather than threatening them.
4.Have the skill of several styles of management
suitable to different situations.
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7. Management Of Group
Functioning
• A project manager should strive to build a mixed
group.
• A mixed group consists of people drawn from
different levels from various functions,
departments and companies.
• A mixed group promotes cohesion, is conducive
to creating a project attitude and develops
commitment for project.
• ‘Participative ‘ style of management should be
pursued by the management.
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8. Management Of Group
Functioning
• The project manager should:
1.Facilitate the development of mutual trust
and acceptance, open communication, co-
operation, and project attitude.
2.Have leadership capabilities, sensitivity to
human nature, perceptiveness, maturity,
impartial approach, concern for welfare of
others.
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