PROJECT MANAGER AND LINE MANAGER

The concept of project manager and line manager is mostly misunderstood by most of us. So, i wrote this blog and tried my best to make these concept simple.

As we know that, most of the organization or companies have following six resources:

• Money

• Manpower 

• Machine 

• Material

• Facilities 

• Information technology

Actually, the project manager does not control any of these resources directly, except money (that is the budget of the project).

The resources are generally controlled by the line manager or functional manager or resource manager. So, project manager must negotiate with line manager for all other resources of the project.

When we say that, project manager controls project resources, we really mean that, they control these resources through line manager. The effectiveness and successful of project management is totally dependent upon following two factors :

Good work culture between project manager and line manager and
The ability of functional employees to report: vertically to line manager and horizontally to project manager at the same time.

Project manager and line manager interface refers to the working relationships between project manager and line manager in order to get the project work done. The key areas of project manager and line manager interface are:

• Allocation of Resources 

• Work Packages 

• Reporting 

• Negotiations 

• Co-ordination 

• Problem Solving

This can be briefly explained as follows :

Allocation of Resources :

 
Project manager must interface with line manager to get the resources allocated for the project.

Work Packages : 

A project consists of work packages cutting through several functional lines. So, project managers and line managers must get interfaced with each other.

Reporting: 

Project manager and line manager both have dual responsibilities for reporting progress and performances.

Negotiations : 

The project manager has to negotiate with various parties in relation to the project work. During such negotiations he needs to interface with line manager.

Co-ordination: 

The project manager has to interface with line manager to achieve harmonization between the project works and line department works.

Problem Solving : 

Projects faces a lot of problems. So, project manager must cope with the line manager to solve such problems.


Therefore, project manager and line manager requires good working relationships. Both should unite when problem arises and reconcile it for the projects so that, it gets completed within the limitation of time, cost and quality.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROJECT MANAGER AND LINE MANAGER

The above two terms are used interchangeably in day to day activities.

Although both are under the same hierarchical line, i have made some decent effort to make the differences quite easy and understandable.

The differences between project manager and line manager are as follows:

• Project manager determines objectives. He answers - what task is to be done?. Whereas, line manager determines task. He answers - How will the task be done? .

• Project manager determines schedule. He answers - when will the task be done?. Whereas, line manager determines the location. He answers- where will the task be done ? 

• Project manager determines customer needs. He answers- why will the task be done?. Whereas, line managers determines people. He answers- who will do the task ? 

• Project manager determines budget. He answers-How much resources are available to do the task?. Whereas, line managers determines coordination. He answers- How well the resources are mobilized. 

• Project manager deals with the result of the project. He answers- How well has the overall objectives been achieved?. On the other hand, line manager deals with organization objectives. He answers - How well has the line departments objectives been achieved?. 

• A project manager manages the single project work whereas line managers manages the line of project works. 

• Project managers generally pays only for what is needed for the project. However, line managers has to cover complete operational costs. 

There is always constant hustle between the project manager and line manager in terms of organizational resources. for example money, machine, materials, manpower and technology.

The success or failure of projects keenly depends upon strong relationship bonding between both of them.





picture credit :completewellbeing.com