Project Management is highly popular in two fields, one is IT and other is Civil Engineering works. In both cases Project Manager is expected to be a technical expert. The idea is that if someone is to manage a project he/she should be competent enough not to be cheated or at least able to control the project activities. In its essence the idea is not bad. However there are two great handicaps regarding this requirement for project manager post.
The first and far more important is that being too expert in technical field like IT or Civil Engineering would compel the project manager to do his/her best in project. To this end the best thing done could be his/her technical competency rather than management of the project. Such a competent project manager would concentrate on technical issues and would be intervening (able to intervene) at every stage and technical step of the project. This would result in less and less time left for project management acts.
Secondly the great technical competency restricts one from thinking in different ways. This is created through continuous work in the technical matters along with success gained. Both of these transforms brains in such a way that such people remain thinking in a certain way.
There is no problem if a project manager has technical skills. It could be an advantage but the sector must understand that by putting a highly technical expert as project manager although it might be saving one additional position, it is not benefiting. Project manager has to think in ways very different from technical experts in his/her team. Project manager must take care of team management, time management and goal management. Hope a time would come when project management discipline will get its real place.
i'm doing a project based on The Project Management in India. Can you refer me any books based on this topic.
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When did it harm someone to be an expert on any technical skill, right? I agree that being an expert on something when you're in a Project Management position will be hard. For example, you're an expert in a certain project that you have on-hand. Of course, being an expert in that particular field, you'll tend to ask revisions and other things when supposed to be, your managing: team, time and goal etc. This can cause delay to the project that's bad for the company.
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