Mind of the People

Participative style project manager likes to involve into details with the project members. He/she wants to know that the project members do and how do they do it in the project implementation. On the other hand, Authoritarian style project manager focuses on the end result of the project members. He/she does not care how the project members do it. The end result is what important. Both are having advantages and disadvantages depending on your characters and situation.

Participative style is a good approach is you do not master all the knowledge in the system that is going to be implemented. As you know, the project manager is often chosen by the management because he/she can lead, manage the project and fast learner, even if, his/her knowledge about the system is not broad enough. While participating in the details, project manager could understand how the system is working and would know all the details so that the can manage the project better. However, participative style might raise a problem in a rigid hierarchical organization structure. The upper management would see it as a waste of time for a project manager to involve more in the details. He/she should overview the project and always thinks outside the box.

Authoritarian style is a good approach when you already master the knowledge of the system that is going to be implemented. Your concern will just be the end result. This would work only if the project members also have the knowledge so that you do not need to participate much in the process. However, authoritarian style might raise a problem in a participative organization. Upper management would see it that the project manager does not lead and guide the project members thoroughly.

In conclusion, if you are chosen to become a project manager, analyze the situation first. Try to understand the style of your organization structure. Evaluate your knowledge in the system that you are going to implement. In the end, you can interchange your style as project manager when you want to learn new things and when you want to show your project management style to your upper management.

These kinds of styles are not only applicable in system project implementation, but it also applicable in the ordinary work job. When you are becoming a supervisor or other upper level of organizations, you need to manage your team members.

So, which one are you now?