PROJECT

MANAGEMENT -
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
By Patrick Hayes

A CAI E-Publication
PROJECT MANAGEMENT -
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 4

Background 4

Solution 5

Conclusion 7
PROJECT MANAGEMENT -
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

A project manager exerts indirect influence over the project team, associated
managers, and the resources who work for them. This Sphere of Influence extends
further. A project manager takes responsibility for the stakeholders’ or client’s needs
and acts as an extension of their authority if we are to deliver business value. These
stakeholders include the project’s steering committee and the operations team
responsible for the asset after the project is complete, among many others. There
are also supporting groups such as project management organizations (PMOs)
within an organization to be worked with.

Effective communication will increase the chances all stakeholders are working
with the project, not against at cross purposes. Communication and trust drive
productive conflict so the team delivers action items efficiently.

Project Management

3
INTRODUCTION
The project manager, typically don’t own a team of dedicated resources. Instead, they interact with
a project organization and must acquire business resources who don’t report to them to deliver the
project.

Because of that, it’s exciting to look at the project manager’s sphere of influence because it
varies and is different from a typical manager’s sphere of influence. For example, the average
manager will directly impact their team – they can tell their people exactly what to do with real
consequences. Sure, a project manager can in some ways do that as well, but it’s much more
prominent as a functional manager will have direct control over their resources.

BACKGROUND
Project managers fulfill many roles within their sphere of influence. These roles reflect the project
manager’s capabilities and represent the value and contributions of the project management
profession.

Project Management

4
SOLUTION
Leadership, planning, coordination, and communications play an essential role. A project manager
influences their project, organization, industry, professional discipline, and other fields. As part
of these, the influence spreads to all the project stakeholders, for example, suppliers supplying
resources, tools, or information to the project. All are influenced by the PM’s work and the outcome
of the project.

MAXIMIZING THE PROJECT MANAGERS SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

A project manager needs to lead the project team, meet the project objectives, and meet or manage
stakeholder expectations. When changes arrive, a project manager will use their skills to ensure that
stakeholders support the project instead of going against it and even to support the project decisions
even when they disagree with them.

That can be a very challenging situation, but it will be something that be worked through. As noted
in the PMBOK guide, that the top 2% of project managers demonstrate average relationship-building
and communication skills while displaying a positive attitude.

They display a positive attitude and work through those issues, so they can maintain positive
stakeholder relationships and work through issues that arise in the future.

A project manager must also influence the organization, working with other project managers. As
an example, a PM is assigned to ten projects going on simultaneously, and each requires unique
resources which sometimes overlap. The PM uses their power, influence, and skills to ensure that
tasks still get done while at the same time helping other projects around the organization.

It can be a tricky situation, but it is something that will need to have visibility. Each project impacts
other projects due to demands on the same resources, funding, and impacts of the change to the
business. Sometimes the company can only manage so much change at once. Additionally, they have
the business-as-usual work to complete, often leading to capacity constraints on the client side.

As project management capability increases, it’s also essential throughout the organization that
everyone works from the same playbook, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Working with
others is more advantageous when everyone works from the same process steps.

Project Management

5
 Stakeholders
Suppliers
Customers
End Users

Sponsors
Governing Bodies
Steering Committees
PMOs

Project Team
PPP Managers
Resource Managers

Project
Manager

Figure 3-1. Pg. 53. Project

Manager’s Sphere of Influence
PMBOK 6th edition.

But there is more.

The project manager must be fully engaged with the industry as well. They need to stay
informed about current industry trends; change is constant, and it’s up to the individual to be
aware of what’s happening in industry because these trends will impact the project. Something
could come out of the blue and completely change the landscape; early knowledge of these
items can make all the difference in the effectiveness of the PM response.

Examples include product technology development, new market niches, regulations, or broader
economic forces, for example, maybe the stock market is starting to fall, or money is flowing out
of the industry. Knowing these new tools, skills, and disciplines (for example, Agile came into IT
more than a decade ago and is now into project management and operations management) is a
key to providing high client value and staying relevant in the PM profession.

Still more.
A project manager needs to influence and be aware of their professional discipline. That means
continuing our professional development, continuing to learn, continuing education, and sharing
that knowledge. Sharing knowledge with others in the organization helps everyone sing the
same melody and work from the same process steps. Helping others improve their way of work
and their methods for delivering projects improves the whole industry and drives improvement
to the entire human experience. It might change the standards for delivering projects
worldwide. Interactions like this are beautiful. Being a solution provider while developing project
management knowledge and expertise makes the job have meaning.

Project Management

6
CONCLUSION
Lastly, the project manager’s sphere of influence will occur across disciplines. And that’s part of
the actual value of project management because project management is a skill set that applies
to any industry. A project management process that works across disciplines can help coach,
improve, and inspire others in that method to help them get the business value they need.

References

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge PMBOK Guide Seventh edition Pg. 52-54. pmi.org

Research Shows the Best Project Managers Are Also Effective People Managers coreperformanceconcepts.com

Project Managers Influence cci.edu.au

Project Management

7
 Patrick Hayes
Associate Director,
Program and Project Management

Serving as an Associate Director of Program and

Project Management at CAI, Patrick Hayes works
with a team of experienced professionals in
bringing integrated services to the client. A former
Coast Guard Officer, Patrick specialized in human
performance technology, focusing on international
training and development to allied and developing
countries. Patrick has over 22 years of experience
planning and executing capital projects, with significant experience in the
pharmaceutical industry. Patrick has a comprehensive understanding of the
various workstreams and efforts necessary to achieve Operational Readiness
in a manufacturing facility. Patrick has a BS in Business and Organizational
Development, MBA in Organizational Operations Management, a Certified Six
Sigma Black Belt, and multiple Project Management Certifications.
For more information or support in developing your Project Management Program, please
get in touch with [email protected]

©2022 CAI.